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| Water sell-off may begin in 2008 | Water sell-off may begin in 2008 |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The privatisation or selling off of Northern Ireland's water service could begin in just over 13 months. | The privatisation or selling off of Northern Ireland's water service could begin in just over 13 months. |
| It has been confirmed that the government is considering starting to sell bits of it from 2008 - and they may do it without public consultation. | It has been confirmed that the government is considering starting to sell bits of it from 2008 - and they may do it without public consultation. |
| The details were revealed by SDLP leader Mark Durkan during a debate on water by a key parliamentary committee. | The details were revealed by SDLP leader Mark Durkan during a debate on water by a key parliamentary committee. |
| He told MPs the legislation allowed for the introduction of private sector ownership without any consultation. | He told MPs the legislation allowed for the introduction of private sector ownership without any consultation. |
| "Do honourable friends really think it is sound that you provide for a GoCo (government owned company) - a publicly owned company - and you legislate so that that can actually take on private sector ownership without any public consultation in the future?" he asked. | |
| He said the Treasury wanted a review of whether there would be benefits from greater private sector participation which could conclude that there would be advantages to bringing in a private equity partner, which would mean selling a minority shareholding. | He said the Treasury wanted a review of whether there would be benefits from greater private sector participation which could conclude that there would be advantages to bringing in a private equity partner, which would mean selling a minority shareholding. |
| BBC Northern Ireland special investigations correspondent Mike McKimm said that it seemed under pressure from the Treasury, the administration in Northern Ireland may consider a part-privatisation in 2008. | BBC Northern Ireland special investigations correspondent Mike McKimm said that it seemed under pressure from the Treasury, the administration in Northern Ireland may consider a part-privatisation in 2008. |
| "At that stage some shares in the new water company could be sold off - it has also been suggested that no consultation should take place before any sell off of the shares," he said. | "At that stage some shares in the new water company could be sold off - it has also been suggested that no consultation should take place before any sell off of the shares," he said. |
| "But it is understood that the present secretary of state - Peter Hain - does not want to see water privatised here, it has been described as a 'red line position' for Mr Hain - he simply won't accept it." | "But it is understood that the present secretary of state - Peter Hain - does not want to see water privatised here, it has been described as a 'red line position' for Mr Hain - he simply won't accept it." |
| In a statement the Department for Regional Development said the secretary of state has ruled out privatisation under direct rule and this will be up to the devolved administration to decide. | |
| It said that the GoCo to be set up on 1 April, 2007, will be wholly government-owned. | |
| "The proposed Water and Sewerage Order provides that the department shall not dispose of securities or rights issued which would result in a change of control of GoCo without the approval of the assembly," it said. | |
| Northern Ireland householders will face an average bill of £300 following the government's decision to press ahead with the introduction of water charges next April. | Northern Ireland householders will face an average bill of £300 following the government's decision to press ahead with the introduction of water charges next April. |
| More than £3bn is being invested to update a crumbling sewerage and leaking water supply system in Northern Ireland and it is the charges which will provide the new government owned water company (go-co) with the income to carry out that work. | More than £3bn is being invested to update a crumbling sewerage and leaking water supply system in Northern Ireland and it is the charges which will provide the new government owned water company (go-co) with the income to carry out that work. |