WELSH manufacturing needs a £51million boost in next week's budget to help it bounce back, according to union leaders.

The TUC is calling for the extra cash to help Welsh industry make the most of any global recovery. Official figures show that while UK manufacturing output rose slightly during February, at the same time another 15,000 jobs were lost.

Gwent has been hit by the job losses with thousands of redundancies at firms like Pirelli Cables, ESM, and Corus in recent months.

The TUC expects several more months of widespread job losses.

The millions needed, according to the TUC's figures, include: £30 million for measures to support industry in Wales in 2002 and beyond, including a significant increase in funding to the National Assembly.

£12 million for the large firm research and development tax credit.

£9 million to introduce training tax credits to Wales.

Wales TUC General Secretary David Jenkins said: "The Welsh economy needs at least an extra £51m so that our manufacturing sector can look to the future with confidence. "Wales has the lowest spending on research and development in the UK. This lack of investment in innovation by companies in Wales is a significant factor leading to low pay, and is holding back our economy. We also want to see training tax credits introduced so that the high-skill economy that we all aspire to can be made reality.

"The Wales TUC wants to see a world-class economy created through effective and targeted investment to tackle the productivity gap with our European neighbours. We need 'smart-support' to give us a high-wage, hi-tech manufacturing sector that will trail-blaze Made in Wales across the globe."

The TUC is not the only organisation lobbying Chancellor Gordon Brown ahead of the budget on Wednesday - which was delayed this year to give Mr Brown time to mourn the loss of his baby daughter.

The Liberal Democrats have already announced their alternative budget, pledging to raise income tax by 1p and introduce a new 50% tax for those earning £100,000 and over in order to increase spending on education and health.

*PICTURED: Pirelli Cables in Newport - just one of the firms in Gwent to be hit by job losses.