asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the reasons for the rise in the estimated shortfall for 1980–81 to £1·5 million over the income from the collection of dog licences from the shortfall for 1979–80 of £600,000.

The estimated shortfall in 1979–80 is expected to be £700,000 to £800,000 and in 1980–81 £1· 5 million. In both cases this is attributable to rising collection costs.