1.   Headteachers began filling empty reception class places with under-fives in the Seventies because the low birth-rate had caused a shortage of five-year-olds.

2.   Poor harvests could cause food shortages in the winter.

3.   The loss of such people caused shortages in key ares of the economy and necessitated the importation of expatriate skills, often at high cost.

4.   Iraq was undoubtedly successful in causing shortages of refined products in Iran.

5.   To a great extent shortages are caused by population expansion and in the nineteen sixties the example everyone quoted was China.

6.   An increase in demand for petrochemicals, used in making plastics, synthetic rubber and fibers, is causing a shortage of supplies and a jump in prices.

7.   Analysts said inflation in May was worse than expected because a drought caused shortages of some commodities such as rice and corn.

8.   An unexpected frost or hurricane could wipe out the crop, causing shortages that would push prices sharply higher.

9.   And they know the shortage is caused by the death of the main dopamine-producing neurons in the brain.

10.   At the same time, overseas deployments have multiplied, stretching the services to the limit, and causing shortages of spare parts and equipment.