WATER privitisation may still be a likely option for Northern Ireland as resident looks set to pay for their water usage.

Dominic Bradley said:

“Everyone claims to be against water charges but we are seeing clear signs of wobble and climbdown on the part of Sinn Fein and the DUP, and the retreat could begin within days.”

“Unlike them, the SDLP opposed separate water charges first and foremost because it was clearly a device to aid privatisation. Let no one be in any doubt that the Treasury still wants to sell off our Water Service and I can find no evidence that either Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy or Finance Minister Peter Robinson intends to stop them.”

“The Independent Review Panel on Water clearly identified the privatisation plans that we first disclosed several years ago, and the first test for Conor Murphy will be whether he accepts the report of the Panel he himself set up. The right question for the minister is not ‘how much?’ but ‘why?’ What is the real purpose of a separate water charge at any level?”

“We all know that water has to be paid for, but the Panel pointed out that we are already paying to the tune of £160 per household per year through the rates. We think this may be a significant under-estimate, because it does not take account of recent regional rate hikes - most notably 19 per cent under Peter Hain - which were specifically justified in terms of paying for water and sewerage infrastructure.”

“The fact is that the Water Service is already part privatised. All customer contact has been put in the hands of a private contractor. Even though no decision has yet been taken, Crystal Alliance has a contract worth more than £90 million for service and billing. The Review Panel quite properly questioned the value of this contract and pointed out the great savings to be made by implementing an escape clause in the contract. Conor Murphy should examine this option without delay.”