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Money, money, money

• Mark Devenport
• 1 Mar 07, 02:05 PM

It's been the worst kept secret in local politics that Peter Robinson intends to take the Finance portfolio at the first opportunity. So what to make of the DUP's announcement on this score today? The DUP has presented it as part of a personal committment from Ian Paisley to tackle water charges. But it also looks like a clear signal that the party intends to go into government. Yes, the water charges leaflet says devolution is conditional on a satisfactory financial package. But nowhere does it mention any preconditions concerning Sinn Fein. I suppose the DUP will argue that voters should be well aware of their reservations on this point. But the following pledge from the DUP leader appears without any qualification "if the DUP is returned at this election as the largest political party, I will make the Department of Finance and Personnel my party's first Ministerial choice". To quote the Green co-leader Peter Doran. speaking at their manifesto launch today, it looks as if Ian Paisley has "taken Peter Hain's bait".

The Water Charges leaflet seems to have fewer specific pledges on water charges than the DUP's manifesto. The manifesto called for an extension of the option of water metering and said bills should be kept at "a level no higher than in England and Wales". What does this mean? According to my reading of the OFWAT website the average English and Welsh bill in 2004-5 was 拢249 rising to 拢295 by 2009-10. However the highest annual bill, for the South West , is expected to be 拢444 by 2009-10.

According to the DRD, once water charges are fully introduced here in 2009/2010, the lowest charge will be around 拢90 a year, the highest charge will be around 拢800 a year and the average charge will be 拢334.

The Greens say they are working on a legal challenge to the water charges, which they believe breach the European Water Framework directive as they do not provide an incentive for people to conserve water.

Many thanks to "the Craic party" whose comment pointed me towards the OFWAT website.