In the few weeks that I have held my present post I have been made well aware of some of the rough justice that is inherent in the target system that my predecessors felt obliged to introduce in an attempt to persuade local authorities to budget responsibly. Not least of the difficulties is that to which my hon. Friend has drawn attention, concerning areas of rising population. The leader of Buckinghamshire county council spoke to me about that subject only yesterday. I have those points well in mind. To what extent I shall be able to deal with them in the imminent rate support grant is a matter to which I am giving urgent attention.