Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

JAPANESE

Q&As

REPORTER: I have a question relating to the nuclear incident, concerning the donations given to those affected by the disaster. It seems that those who have received donations or temporary compensation payments have stopped receiving public assistance, as these payments are considered to be income by the Government. Does the Government think that this is appropriate?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have heard similar reports. I would like each relevant ministry and agency to work with the local municipalities to verify the actual situation on the ground and confirm the gist of each system in place for the distribution of this money. I think that we need to obtain a clear understanding of these points before we can begin concrete debate on this matter.

REPORTER: Last month it was reported that the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) had notified that any money over an amount necessary to help those affected by the disaster to get back on their feet would be considered income. Is this notification out of line with reality then? Or is the Government really thinking in this way?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I think that we need to first obtain a clear understanding of the stance of MHLW regarding this money, the Government stance on support for disaster victims, the actual situation on the ground, and many other matters, before we can begin to talk about this issue.

REPORTER: Some media outlets reported today that some of the actions that have been taken by the Government in response to the incident at Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station are not defined in current laws, and that in light of this, the Government is discussing the establishment of a new law to allow it to take responsibility for damaged nuclear power stations after an accident until they can be shut down. Please tell us about the state of such discussions.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Although the major premise of the investigation into the incident up until now has been that it be done by the third-party Nuclear Incident Investigation and Verification Committee, regarding the necessity of amending the various systems in place, as the ones directly involved in dealing with the incident in Fukushima, many of us in the Government, including myself, feel that there is a need for some changes. The legal systems established prior to the Great East Japan Earthquake contains certain elements that make work toward a final conclusion to this incident difficult. I believe that this is a widely shared opinion. Each concerned ministry and agency is currently exerting every effort toward drawing the situation at the power station to a close. The Government recognizes the need to ensure that there is nothing insufficient about our response activities moving forward. While maintaining this recognition, we are at the beginning stages now of gathering and organizing our thoughts on each problem related to this issue.

REPORTER: Yesterday, the Prime Minister expressed his intention to stay in office until the establishment of legislation related to a feed-in-tariff scheme for electricity. This statement seems to conflict with what he had said at the recent meeting of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Diet members. Any comments on this point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I acknowledge that the Prime Minister touched upon the feed-in-tariff scheme at a meeting yesterday. I think it was the one held at the Diet Members' Building. However, I have not properly heard what he really meant by this statement. As a member of the Government, I can say that our hope is to have every bill we have submitted to the Diet enacted within the timeframe of the current Diet session.

REPORTER: It seems that Chair of the DPJ Policy Research Committee Koichiro Gemba was "entrusted" with the issue of the child allowance system today in preparation for discussion to amend the system. I feel that the reported term "entrusted" is a little ambiguous. What exactly is expected of him?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: As I have said time and time again, we made promises about child allowances when we were elected, before we ever could have imagined the social changes brought by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Since we have limited finances, we must clarify our priorities as we move forward. With this in mind, we strongly expect that Mr. Gemba will be able to move discussion between the DPJ and opposition parties in a good direction, which is one of the premises toward gaining widespread understanding in the Diet on any number of the issues we face.

REPORTER: Related to that, I think that a focus of the discussion on child allowance will be whether or not to set income limitations related to who is eligible to receive this money. Do you think that such limitations should be established?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Originally, it was thought that child allowances should be given regardless of income levels, based on the number of children in each household. I think that this is the naturally preferable order of things. However, as I said a moment ago, the available finances for this are limited due to the Great East Japan Earthquake. We need to respond thoroughly to the disaster with the limited funds we have, and I think that we need to balance the amount of resources we put toward each of our priorities. I want Mr. Gemba to consider the opinions of the opposition parties and act appropriately on this issue as Chairman of the Policy Research Committee.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question about the comment made by the Prime Minister regarding legislation to establish a feed-in-tariff scheme. I don't think that the meeting yesterday was the only time that the Prime Minister has mentioned this. Two days ago as well, during a meeting of the House of Councillors Special Committee on Reconstruction, when explaining what he meant by not wanting to resign until a certain degree of progress had been achieved, the Prime Minister said that this at least meant until the establishment of legislation relating to the feed-in-tariff scheme and legislation relating to energy policy. I think that you were also present at this meeting. Is this establishment of such legislation what he means by "a certain degree of progress"?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have not received any special explanation about the interpretation of "a certain degree of progress" discussed at the meeting of the Diet members. As I said a moment ago, we strongly hope to have all legislation we have made a cabinet decision on and submitted to the Diet enacted within the current Diet session. Of course we will need to balance the amount of effort we put toward each issue, but as the legislation related to the feed-in-tariff scheme is something that we have drawn up to replace the existing policy on natural energy, we place high priority on it. If we do not pass it, this policy won't benefit Japan. Furthermore, if it isn't passed, the old legislation will be thrown out with nothing new to replace it. I think it is close to our highest priority in terms of the legislation we have proposed.

REPORTER: Changing the topic, it was reported that during a meeting between People's New Party leader Shizuka Kamei and the Prime Minister, Mr. Kamei suggested that the Prime Minister reshuffle the Cabinet when he appoints a Minister of Reconstruction. What is your position on the necessity of a cabinet reshuffle?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I did not receive any instructions or explanation in particularly from the Prime Minister following his meeting with Mr. Kamei. I think that if he needs something to be done he will instruct as such. Either way, the establishment of this new post is currently being deliberated on within the Diet. There cannot be a Minister of Reconstruction unless the Basic Act on Reconstruction is approved. I feel that there is a need to pass this bill, but I believe that anything beyond that should be up to the Prime Minister to decide.

(Abridged)