The results of the STFC prioritisation exercise for 2010-2015 have been announced, see http://www.scitech.ac.uk/PMC/PRel/STFC/CouncilNews161209.aspx

Our community will clearly be affected by the cuts to Fellowships and Studentships, which we deeply regret. We also wait to hear what the ‘managed withdrawals’ from prized facilities SOHO and ROSA will mean for us. But we are pleased to see that the high priority of UK solar physics overall is reflected in continued support for Hinode and STEREO, and for Solar Orbiter R&D.

A further Government announcement with implications for the future structure of STFC is to be found here:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=409672&SubjectId=2