Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

JAPANESE

Q&As

REPORTER: Minister Hosono has indicated his concept for reducing the evacuation areas within Step 1 of the Roadmap towards the conclusion of the accident at the nuclear power station. What is the current status of considerations within the Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The Government seeks to allow people to return to their homes as quickly as possible in locations that have been confirmed to be safe, which is also based on the strong desire of the relevant people. This issue has two aspects, the first being whether or not the situation will deteriorate, resulting in the new release of large volumes of radioactive materials. The second is the degree to which radiation from radioactive materials has accumulated in the various locations to date. A decision will be made based on these two considerations. The Government is aware that currently in the areas that have been designated for evacuation or in the emergency evacuation preparation zones, there are some locations where radiation from radioactive materials is not at levels that would be detrimental to health. The issue is first to complete Step 1 of the Roadmap, and this is what Minister Hosono was referring to when he spoke about the conclusion of Step 1. Once that stage is reached, I believe that it may be possible to make a judgment on whether there is a risk of further release of large volumes of radioactive materials, and consider the situation then. The basic premise is to stabilize the flow of coolant water to the reactors as soon as possible and all efforts are first of all being made toward that end.

REPORTER: What sort of support structure and secretariat will be created from now to assist Minister for the Restoration from and Prevention of Nuclear Accident Hosono?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This is something for which the specifics are currently being finalized. It will be necessary to provide Minister Hosono with a robust support structure. He has been working in a similar role in his previous position and the transition to his new role will require some degree of procedural adjustments, which are currently in the process of being finalized.

REPORTER: On a related note, how will the roles of Minister Kaieda and Minister Hosono be coordinated from now, in terms of their response to the nuclear accident and related damage?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: There are various detailed points with regard to this coordination, and I think it would cause confusion for me to make comments that are not based on accurate documentation and notes. I have heard that coordination is being implemented already and Ministers Kaieda and Hosono have already engaged in a process of coordination and confirmation with regard to their roles.

REPORTER: One of the bodies that is still operating is the Team in Charge of Assisting the Lives of Disaster Victims around the Nuclear Power Plant, which is headed by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, who also serves as Minister for the Response to the Economic Impact caused by the Nuclear Incident. In addition, the Government-Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) Integrated Response Office is the responsibility of the METI Minister. Will these three roles remain under the portfolio of Minister Kaieda, and will an additional secretariat be created to provide a support structure for Minister Hosono?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Minister Kaieda's role as Minister for the Response to the Economic Impact caused by the Nuclear Incident remains unchanged. Therefore, with regard to the bill that has been submitted to the Diet, Minister Kaieda remains the minister responsible. As for other matters, to date Minister Kaieda and Minister Hosono in his previous capacity as Special Advisor have divided various roles in view of their positions, and it is on the basis of this existing division of roles that the two ministers are coordinating their work. With regard to a secretariat for the new minister, once a minister is appointed he or she also acquires a Minister's office and whether a new secretariat will be created in addition to the office is currently being finalized, which may include some new positions. For example, in terms of liaison with TEPCO, this has been implemented by Minister Hosono in his previous position as Special Advisor and therefore the structures for such liaison are already in place and will not require the creation of a large new secretariat.

(Abridged)