Dara repairs and maintains front-line RAF jet aircraft at St Athan

Vale of Glamorgan MP John Smith said: "I believe we still have a chance of getting the government to change its mind before it is too late."

The base lost a RAF Tornados contract last month, affecting 500 jobs.

A Commons Defence Select Committee spokeswoman said it would form part of a larger inquiry into future capabilities at RAF sites.

Mr Smith said he was "absolutely delighted" that the committee had agreed to carry out an investigation.

Question mark

He said the decision to take work away from the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (Dara) at the base was despite the construction of a �77m 'super hangar' which had been "specifically designed to carry that work out. "

He said the committee played a "pivotal role in preventing attempts to move Dara away from St Athan back in 2001".

It is expected that MPs will take evidence on 17 November.

Last month, Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram confirmed that 500 jobs would go at Dara after it lost a key RAF contract to maintain Tornado fighters to RAF Marham in Norfolk.

Mr Ingram also announced that the entire base in the Vale could close if it failed to win other contracts "in the longer term".

Unions said it was a "big mistake" which placed a question mark over the future of the site.