Minister pushed on aviation jobs (From Barry And District News)

Minister pushed on aviation jobs

VALE Labour MP John Smith was due to meet Adam Ingram at RAF St Athan yesterday, to seek assurances about the future of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA).

Before the meeting, Mr Smith said: "I see a bright future for DARA. Despite what has happened, I am very optimistic about the agency's prospects.

"Our aim should be to become a centre of excellence for military aviation worldwide."

Mr Smith was to lead a delegation of DARA union representatives at the meeting with Mr Ingram, who is the minister ultimately responsible for the allocation of defence contracts.

Mr Smith said: "Our delegation will represent a cross-section of the entire workforce. We will be seeking assurances from the minister that the future of the agency is secure and will request a detailed explanation of why the Harrier contract was lost.

"We had anticipated some redundancies relating to cost-saving and increased efficiency, but not the 190 job losses from the Harrier contract.

"We not asking for special favours, we just want to be able to compete on a level playing field. If the Harrier contract had been awarded purely on commercial ground, I believe DARA could outcompete anybody."

Welsh secretary Peter Hain confirmed last month that 550 positions would be lost at the company, which employs more than 2,000 people repairing Harrier and Tornado jets for the RAF.

After a Ministry of Defence review, it was decided that the maintenance work should be carried out inhouse by the RAF.

Mr Smith said: "The RAF wants work back that it lost over the last five years with the creation of DARA. The RAF can do the repair work, but it will cost the taxpayer a fortune. It is best carried out by civilians on a commercial basis."