First Minister Carwyn Jones yesterday revealed the new draft budget in Wales. With the budget next year to fall by £860m and total spending across the Assembly Government to fall by 9.9%, he emphasised that difficult choices had to be made.

Education has not been the hardest hit but is facing a cut of around 7% in real terms. One of the main pledges from the assembly government was that the draft budget would deliver cash increases for schools and social services over the next three years.

Universal benefits including school breakfasts and the foundation phase for early years learning will continue to be funded. Education Minister Leighton Andrews said: "Budgets for schools - both within the education department and through the revenue support grant - have been protected by 1% above the rate of change in the Welsh Budget."

Here are the key points of the draft budget:

• Budget for Wales next year due to fall by £860m and by £1.8bn by 2014-15
• Total education spending is cut by around 7% in real terms
• Capital budget for NHS cut from £283.3m this year to £205.2m in 2013-14
• Economy and transport and environment cut by more than 21% over three years
• Funding for schools to increase from £1.83bn to £1.9bn over the same period

Budget Minister Jane Hutt said the assembly government was on record as stating its opposition to the speed and depth of cuts imposed by the UK government at a crucial phase of recovery from recession.

"However having been dealt this hand, we are determined to do what it takes to stand up for the people of Wales and continue to provide the right support for those who need it most," she said.

What are people saying?

The draft budget met heavy criticism from its political opponents:

Conservatives' shadow finance minister Nick Ramsay described it as "completely unacceptable", saying it put frontline services at risk.

Kirsty Williams, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats , described the draft budget as a missed opportunity to build Wales' economic future, root out waste in the NHS and target funding at the poorest school children.

Plaid Cymru's finance spokesperson Chris Franks praised the assembly government for its refusal to follow Tory plans to cut budgets by up to a quarter.

Dr Philip Dixon, director of teaching union ATL Cymru , said ministers "had done the best of a bad job".

Education Minister Leighton Andrews welcomed the draft budget, which sought to protect schools and skills. He said "I have worked hard to prioritise our funding to limit the effect this will have on our children and young people, especially the most vulnerable."

If you are concerned about the cuts and would like to talk to someone in confidence, call our Support Line on 08000 855 088 or try these factsheets:

• Comprehensive Spending Review
• University Funding - making sense of the cuts