More than 700 jobs will be lost from defence aviation repair

The Defence Aviation Repair Agency (Dara) at St Athan in south Wales and Fleetlands in Hampshire were mooted for closure in November.

Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said following a consultation period with unions he was sticking with a decision to close the sites in April 2007.

Dara's Sealand operation in north Wales remains unaffected by the cuts.

Up to 500 jobs will go at St Athan's fast jet repair business, with a further 225 at Fleetlands' engine maintenance unit.

Dara's helicopter repair and components businesses at Fleetlands and Almondband in Scotland, as well as St Athan's VC10 work will be put forward for sale.

We will seek to keep compulsory redundancies to a minimum but a significant number may be expected Adam Ingram

Mr Ingram said in a parliamentary statement: "I have decided to implement my preferred options as explained in the consultation document.

"I am particularly mindful of the impact this announcement will have for individuals especially and for south Wales in general.

"We will help those affected to find alternative employment wherever possible and we will make every effort to use natural labour turnover, redeployment and voluntary redundancy to mitigate the loss.

"Using all of the above means, we will seek to keep compulsory redundancies to a minimum but a significant number may be expected."

Last week, hundreds of defence workers rallied in London to protest against the job cuts and the privatisation of services.