Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the third meeting of the Headquarters for Promoting Decentralization Reform at the Prime Minister's Office.

During the meeting, the policy for the coming years regarding the transition of the clerical work and authority from the national government to local governments, and other matters, was decided.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

"The decentralization reform that we are now working on has been moving forward in line with the recommendations compiled by the Decentralization Reform Committee, which was established under the first Abe Cabinet, among other guidelines.
'Transition of the clerical work and authority from the national government to local governments, and other matters' is the last remaining item in the series of reforms, and I believe my Cabinet has to see to it that this reform is achieved in a systematic manner.
Today, this Headquarters will decide on the policy for the coming years regarding the transition of the clerical work and authority from the national government to local governments, and other matters. Going forward, this reform will be promoted in a systematic manner.
With regard to the 'transition of the clerical work and authority from prefectural governments to the governments of ordinance-designated cities, and other matters,' I have received a report from the 30th Local Government System Research Council. This Headquarters will take steady steps to realize this transition, in parallel with the transition of the clerical work and authority from the national government to local governments, and other matters.
In accordance with the policy that will be decided today, I ask relevant ministers to take initiative in promoting the reform and to proactively exercise leadership for the submission of bills, including the bill for the decentralization act concerning the transition of the clerical work and authority and other matters."