DUP says government costing jobs

Politiicans claim 30,000 manufacturing jobs could be lost

The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson has accused the government of "squeezing Northern Ireland manufacturers out of business" through rising rates.

Mr Donaldson and Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey will join a delegation to ask Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain to cap rates on manufacturers at 25%.

Mr Donaldson said it was time Mr Hain "lived up to his claims that he wanted a world-class economy for NI".

Mr Maskey said power-sharing was the way to deal with "day-to-day" affairs.

The government has so far refused to cap the rates despite claims by the Northern Ireland Manufacturing Focus Group that 30,000 jobs are at risk.

'Ignore'

The group had claimed that Northern Ireland businesses could not compete if rates continue to rise.

Mr Maskey said on the same programme he supported the position thought Mr Hain would ignore the parties.

"We have the power in our own hands to take decision which affect people on a day-to-day basis. That's what I want to do," he said.

Mr Donaldson would not commit his party to the November deadline set out by the government, claiming it "would be a nightmare scenario" if devolution collapsed again.

The decision to phase out industrial derating was announced by the government in April 2003 and began in 2005.

Last year manufacturing industry had to pay 15% of the projected bill. This year it will be 25%.