[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 25th meeting of the Administrative Reform Promotion Council at the Prime Minister’s Office.

During the meeting, discussions took place on the FY2016 ‘Autumn Review’ and other matters.

Based on the discussion in the meeting, the Prime Minister said,

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone on this Council for your cooperation on the fourth ‘Autumn Review’ since the inauguration of the Abe administration.

We must ensure that we will not be criticized for using tax money, which is paid by the people, on wasteful expenditures or on measures that are of low priority. It is also necessary to ceaselessly improve the actual impact of policies in the places where they are implemented.

Today, Minister in charge of Administrative Reform Yamamoto gave a report on points identified within the ‘Autumn Review’ and elsewhere. All of these issues are important. Just as Deputy Prime Minister Aso stated, I want to accurately reflect these points in the formulation of the budget and work to further improve administrative programs.

In addition, I intend to fully take into consideration the points made by everyone here today and reflect them in the management of policies.

In particular, this time many of you talked about the significance of it being held in the region of Osaka. It may be difficult for the secretariats, but I want them to consider the regions for next time as well, because I think that we may see one of the regions putting itself forth as a candidate for the next ‘Autumn Review.’  I think this may be significant in the way that it could heighten recognition and interest in correct administrative reform among the public.

I ask for the continued cooperation of everyone in this Council.”