Top of page 24.Will Northern Ireland get a “Green Dowry?
• Under privatisation, the English water companies received what was known as a “Green Dowry”. This comprised the write-off of around £5.2 billion of debt together with net cash injections and capital allowances amounting to some £1.5 billion. This was offset in large part by the proceeds of the privatisation, some £6 Billion, which provided a benefit to all UK taxpayers. • For the five year period up to 2007/08, some £1.1 billion of capital investment has been made available to upgrade the water and sewerage infrastructure. • Those calling for the under-investment in Northern Ireland’s water and sewerage infrastructure to be funde3d by the Exchequer should recognise that : • Northern Ireland has had much higher public expenditure per person than any other part of the UK. Nor is that a result of high security costs – public spending on economic, social and environmental programmes is and has been much higher. Top of page.
