Written question asked by Joan Walley (Labour) on Thursday, 13 January 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 January 2000. It was answered by Chris Mullin (Labour) on Monday, 24 January 2000 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the findings were of the 1996 English House Condition Survey on the relationship between rat infestations and unfitness due to ineffective draining of foul, waste and surface water. - Includes ref to "Rodent Infestations in domestic properties in England" in Library.

Answer: Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the findings were of the 1996 English House Condition Survey on the relationship between rat infestations and unfitness due to ineffective draining of foul, waste and surface water. [105482] Mr. Mullin: The recent MAFF report "Rodent Infestations in domestic properties in England" covers this issue. MAFF's report tentatively suggests that there is a relationship between the incidence of blocked drains and outdoor rat infestation but this has not been supported with statistically significant analysis of the data so the conclusion needs to be treated with caution. Moreover, faults that might be expected to reflect a direct link with sewers, such as cracked or defective drains covers, were not found to be related to rat infestation. A copy of the MAFF report is in the House of Commons Library.

Secondary information