Dara repairs RAF jet aircraft

The review recommends splitting the RAF maintenance work done at the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (Dara) plant at RAF St Athan, in south Wales, between front-line military bases.

Dara, which repairs Harrier and Tornado jets for the RAF and employs about 2,100 people, depends on the RAF for contracts.

The plans suggest savings could be made if the repairs are carried out by private contractors where the jets are based.

If adopted, the review's plans could put at risk many of the 2,100 jobs at St Athan and place in doubt a planned �77m state-of-the-art "super" hanger at the site - called Project Red Dragon.

My worry is the medium term prospects when the work that comes from the MoD starts to dry up John Smith MP

Both trade unions and the MP for the Vale of Glamorgan, John Smith, oppose the recommendations.

The MoD review proposals suggest that up to 48% of Dara's repair work could be given to front-line military bases.

The government is yet to make a decision on the proposals but Labour MP Mr Smith said the review was a blow to Dara, which was set up in 1999 as one of the government's high-profile public-private partnerships

He said: "The recommendations would fatally wound the future prospects of Dara."

Front line

When asked if transferring work to the front line would increase efficiency in aircraft repair, Mr Smith said: "The problem with transferring maintenance to operational stations is (that) a large proportion of the workforce will have other duties and their most important duty is to fight wars.

"The whole point of the creation of Dara was to free up the boys in blue for what they do best and do your repairs and maintenance in garages away from the front line.

"We decided this years ago and it makes good sense because the taxpayer gets more value for money.

"I don't think all the recommendations will be accepted - my concern is that there will be partial acceptance.

Local MP John Smith fears for the base's future

"My worry is the medium term prospects when the work that comes from the MoD starts to dry up.

"This is the largest private-sector employer in my constituency.

"We have the aerospace park right next to it which could create thousands of jobs for Wales if Dara succeeds - all that will be placed in jeopardy if Dara does not."

Following the publication of the report, UK Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said the "end-to-end" review of the MoD's logistics supply chain for land and air forces had concluded there was "clear scope" for improvement.

Private sector

The report followed widespread concerns among forces in Iraq that vital supplies - including body armour - frequently failed to reach front-line troops on time.

Mr Ingram said: "It is imperative we make every pound spent on defence count."

But trade unions warned the review could spell the transfer of thousands of civilian jobs into the private sector.