Dara's base at RAF St Athan is earmarked for 500 job cuts

Vale of Glamorgan MP John Smith claimed that the RAF's future effectiveness could be affected.

A Defence Select Committee report on Thursday expressed "surprise" and "real concern" at the proposals.

The Ministry of Defence said it would consider the report "in detail".

In December, the UK government said it may sell Dara, which employs 3,400.

Plans to transfer work on Tornado and Harrier aircraft back to the RAF were announced in September 2004, along with 500 job cuts at Dara at St Athan, where around 1,600 maintenance staff are employed.

Dara is a civilian arm of the Ministry of Defence, and was set up to cut the costs of maintaining and repairing the UK's military aircraft.

If the MOD fail to do this, I believe it will place the air availability of its premiere fast jets at risk John Smith MP

Mr Smith said the select committee report published on Thursday questioned the ability of the RAF to undertake the work.

It called on the UK Government to 'match, if not exceed' the standards and facilities at St Athan.

Mr Smith said: "If the MOD fail to do this, I believe it will place the air availability of its premiere fast jets at risk.

'Not cost effective'

"Severe problems are already being encountered following an earlier decision to move Harrier jets to RAF Cottesmore.

"Over �70m of contracts have been awarded to the original manufacturer (BAE systems) without any competition.

"They have effectively become the 'monopoly supplier' of depth support for the Harrier within the RAF."

Mr Smith's call has also been backed by the trade union, Amicus.

Cath Speight, Amicus Regional Secretary in Wales, said: "Amicus has also said that this is a disastrous and an unfair decision for the loyal civilian workforce at DARA and that transferring the work to (RAF) Cottismore would not be an efficient or cost effective option."

Investment bank

More than half of Dara's staff work at St Athan in south Wales and Sealand in north Wales. There are also bases at Gosport, Hampshire, and the Perth in Scotland.

Last month it emerged the American investment bank Morgan Stanley had been appointed to advise the Government on the possible sale of the Dara.

An MoD spokesman said the defence select report was a wide ranging report.

He said: "We will consider the committee's report in detail over the coming weeks and provide a comprehensive report to Parliament in due course."