Mr. Rostron Duckworthasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the seriousness of the rat' plague in parts of England; and whether he will recommend to all local authorities the desirability of offering a small reward for such vermin killed?
Mr. HudsonI am fully aware of the serious damage caused by rats wherever they may be found and a national rat destruction campaign has been in operation for some time. There is no specific satutory authority for the payment of rewards by local authorities for rats killed, but I have already informed War Agricultural Executive Committees that I am prepared to approve the initiation by them of such a system in the present emergency circumstances, and as one factor in a comprehensive campaign of rat destruction.