It has emerged that bills of £400 per year are likely to arrive through the doors of households across Northern Ireland in the form of water charges after April 2006.

That’s according to a leaked memo from the Department of Regional Development to the Minister of Sate for Water Charges, John Spellar.

This would mean that Northern Ireland households would pay more for water than anywhere in Britain. Householders across the North would end up paying 47% abo ve the current average water bill in Scotland. Also revealed in the memo is that every household, including the unemployed, low-paid and pensioners will be receiving bills for water. Attempting to appear understanding or somewhat charitable, the Government is looking at giving "disadvantaged" groups a discount of 25% for the first three years. But how many "disadvantaged" households can afford to pay £300 a year for water?

Every household in Northern Ireland pays for water through the regional rate already. The discount £300 charge is still a discount robbery. It is clear, despite the window dressing of the “discount” charge, that water charges will push thousands of more people into the poverty trap.

According to Government figures, one quarter of households in Northern Ireland earn less than £200 a week. 1/3 of householders already live in fuel poverty. Water charges will mean the introduction of water poverty.What would Minister John Spellar know about not being able to afford to pay for water? The poor guy only manages to get by on a combined salary of £95,281 a year! Good work if you can get it.

The Water Charges - We Won’t Pay Campaign has responded to these plans by launching the We Won’t Pay Pledge. The campaign will be going door to door collecting pledges from house - holds who want to fight a gainst water charges across Northern Ireland and to join a campaign of mass-non payment. The campaign hopes to sign thousands of households up to commit to refusing to pay the water charges. Already we have met thousands of people in the communities and on the streets, who are prepared to take this necessary stand. If you would like to send the pledge around your estate to sign people up to the non-payment campaign,contact us at 028 90 232962.

Water charges are set to be introduced in April 2006.

After a series of so-called consultation meetings around Northern Ireland, which showed unanimous opposition to charges, the government continues to ignore public opinion and spreads lies and deceit to try and hoodwink the public into accepting water charges.

Water charges will throw thousands of more households into poverty.

Below we answer some of the arguments New Labour ministers have thrown up to try to justify these bogus charges:

* "EU Water Framework Directive requires water charges"

Nowhere in the Water Framework Directive is there any specific mention of the introduction of user charges.

* "Householders don't pay for Water"

Every household in Northern Ireland pays for the water and sewerage services through the regional rate. 37% of rates go towards water and sewerage services. As well as introducing an extra separate charge for water, rates are set to increase too. 50% of all water used in Northern Ireland is used by industry, yet householders are expected to pay the total cost.

* "People in Northern Ireland do not contribute enough in taxation as people in Britain"

Wages in Northern Ireland are considerably lower than in Britain. Household incomes here are 19% below the UK average. Northern Ireland households have an average income of £445 per week compared with £550 per week for Britain as a whole. 21% of household income is dependent on benefits compared with 12% reliance in Britain. Households in Northern Ireland pay on average 26% more for fuel, light and power than households in Britain. The proposed £400 charge would place Northern Ireland 53% above the average in England & Wales and 9% above average costs for water in Scotland.

* "Vulnerable groups will be protected"

There are no exemptions - everyone will have to pay. Mention of a 25% "discount" charge for disadvantaged groups for the first three years will mean an estimated £300 a year. Yet "disadvantaged" groups already pay for water through the rates. A discount charge of £300 a year is still a discount £300 robbery. 170,000 households in Northern Ireland are in fuel poverty. Poor households in Northern Ireland contain over 1/2 million people, including almost 150,000 children. Water charges will guarantee further impoverishment.