Staff at the dockyard have been warned of job cuts

DML staff want to show how important the dockyard is to the local economy and persuade Geoff Hoon to give them more submarine and ship contracts.

DML employs more than 5,000 people and is the largest private sector employer in Devon and Cornwall.

But the yard has no surface ship refit work lined up after the summer.

Meanwhile, its submarine refit work will be cut by half within three years.

MP Linda Gilroy, who will lead the delegation, said: "The nuclear refit work that the yard has secured is important, but in order to maintain a stable workforce DML needs more surface ship work.

"The yard has diversified, but it can't replace the business of refitting naval vessels."

The meeting comes as US company Carlyle Group considers a possible �450m takeover of DML.