To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the merits of compelling water companies to introduce sewer baiting to reduce the rat population. (117443)

There is no specific duty on water companies in relation to the control of rats in sewers. A joint protocol, published in 1999 by the Local Government Association and Water UK, set out arrangements for closer working between water companies and local authorities on rodent infestations in sewers. However, sewer baiting is a matter for individual water companies.