There are more than 2,000 Dara workers at RAF St Athan

Vale of Glamorgan MP John Smith spoke to the minister on Thursday about his concerns that many more jobs could be at risk at the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (Dara), which is in his constituency.

The UK government agency employs 2,000 people at St Athan, but it is losing work to the RAF.

There are fears the cuts could undermine thousands more jobs planned for the site under Project Red Dragon - a world-class aviation centre.

But speaking after the meeting Mr Smith said the other jobs were not necessarily under threat and he felt a "lot better" about the situation.

He said that Mr Ingram explained that the decision to cut the jobs was "exceptional".

"He (Mr Ingram) took me through the circumstances and said they would not be repeated in the future," he said.

"He also said he would publish the investment appraisal that was used to make that decision and he will also do so with future contracts.

"That re-assures me because it means that the workforce at St Athan can see how they're doing," he added.

Dara, which has two sites in Wales, is the biggest government-owned aerospace repair facility in Europe and its future had been under review for several months.

Some of the losses announced on Wednesday at the plant, which currently employs 2,000 people, are down to a decision to upgrade Harrier jump-jets "in-house" by the RAF at its base at Cottesmore in Leicestershire, instead of St Athan.

Contracts have been lost to the RAF

The work in St Athan is due to be succeeded by the �77m Project Red Dragon - a world-class aviation centre complete with superhangar.

But the rest of the jobs losses are down to streamlining - mainly because Project Red Dragon will be operated over a space of 100 acres where as Dara currently works over a 1,000 acre site.

Mr Ingram also said on Thursday that "up to" 550 jobs could be lost - rather than the whole figure.

"This is going to the trade unions for consultation and Mr Ingram said the figure was negotiable," said Mr Smith.

"So I think there could well be a case for keeping some of the jobs on for when additional work comes to the site."

Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon, told the Commons on Thursday that the Government was "absolutely committed" to the Red Dragon aviation project despite the job cuts there.

"We believe the people engaged in it have a significant role to play in the future," he said.

Welsh Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies has admitted that many of the job losses were not unexpected.

"That Dara would need to make efficiencies to become even more competitive in a tough market is a recognised fact," he said.

"But clearly one that does not make this announcement any more welcome or any less of a blow to those directly affected."