§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment has been made of the contribution of wild brown rats to the spread of foot and mouth disease; and what the result of such assessment was. [34067]
§ Mr. MorleyThere has been no recent assessment of the contribution of wild brown rats to the spread of foot and mouth disease.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what proportion of farms affected by foot and mouth disease steps were taken to eradicate the brown rat population; and how many rat bodies were recovered as the result of treatments. [34068]
§ Mr. MorleySteps were taken to eradicate brown rats on all infected premises, on dangerous contact premises and on slaughter on suspicion premises. Rat bodies were destroyed immediately and there are no records of the numbers involved.