You recently printed an article by Ben Parsons, entitled "Rat plague is due to compost bins'"

(The Argus, January 8).

However, on the same day, in The Independent, there was also an article on this subject by Johann Hari entitled: "The real reason there are more rats than ever." It was based on the annual report of the National Pest Technicians' Association.

This report identified the main cause of the rat plague as water privatisation.

According to Hari, in the days before privatisation, councils dealt with the rats by sewerbaiting, that is, lowering poisoned bait through manholes into the sewers.

But since the Tory water privatisation in 1989, the water companies have saved money by not bothering with this.

Hari quotes the report as saying: "Only lip service (is now paid) to the very serious matter of sewerbaiting...

(This) refusal time after time to undertake or financially support pro-active treatments is steadily causing serious concern because of its knock-on effect against the public's health."

He concludes that: "The explosion of rats across Britain is another bleak parable about the folly of market fundamentalism...

(and in particular) the market fundamentalist article of faith that, by pursuing their private interest, corporations automatically enhance the public good."

John Baker
Lansdowne Street,
Hove