Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

JAPANESE

(Abridged)

Q&As

REPORTER: At yesterday's meeting of the House of Representatives Special Committee on Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, a supplementary resolution was adopted in association with the revision of the bill to establish an organization for supporting the nuclear disaster compensation payments. Regarding the "specific assistance framework" set forth in the Cabinet decision of June 14, the Committee states, "Recognizing that it has completed its role, the Government shall review the framework." In response to this, does the Government have any intentions to review the specific assistance framework?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: A similar question was also asked at yesterday's Diet meeting to which I responded. Bearing in mind the Cabinet decision, the contents were arranged into legislation format and a bill was submitted to the Diet. Thanks to the revisions of the House, we now have an even better legislation. At the same time, in the sense that this is now legislation, the Cabinet decision has in effect fulfilled a certain role. Nevertheless, most legislation traditionally undergo a similar process. That is, an overall vision is approved by the Cabinet, and based on that the text is written. The bill is then submitted to the Diet and passed into law. Although the Cabinet decision would have fulfilled a certain role, we do not directly review Cabinet decisions themselves.

REPORTER: Previously, you have said that there will be a freeze in principle in transfers of the senior personnel of ministries and agencies. However, looking at the current situation, it seems that personnel transfers are taking place pretty much at the same pace as other years. Does the policy of freeze in principle no longer exist? If so, what sort of standards are the current personnel transfers being based on?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Indeed, based on the principle of "freeze in principle," we have been consulted individually about various situations, and have been making decisions regarding those items which require a Cabinet decision.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have another question about a topic that was discussed a moment ago. I believe you gave your response to the question at yesterday's Diet meeting before the supplementary resolution was adopted. So is my understanding correct that, although the supplementary resolution says that the Government shall review the specific assistance framework, the Government nevertheless does not intend to carry out a review?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: We do bear in mind the purpose of the supplementary resolution. Of course, there is the Cabinet decision; there is the bill; the bill is revised at the Diet; and the contents will be administered based on the revised legislation. Therefore, the contents will of course be administered in accordance with the bill and legislation. What I am saying is that these steps are not of such nature that the Cabinet decision itself will be formally revised. Naturally, if the sections revised at the Diet differ from the Cabinet decision, we will execute public administration in accordance with the law, as the law is the superordinate concept. I believe this is a little different from the subject of how we will formally go about doing this.

REPORTER: There are Diet members from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) who interpret that the policy in the original scheme (Cabinet decision) of not imposing excessive debt on nuclear power operators has become invalid under the revised bill. Is my understanding correct that even after the legislation is passed, the Government will make it binding the policy of the scheme which stipulates that excessive debt will not be imposed?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I'm sorry. I do not recall the entire text of the Cabinet decision. Did it say that excessive debt will not be imposed?

REPORTER: Yes, it's in the Cabinet decision. It states that excessive debt will not be imposed on nuclear power operators.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This is a matter which will be decided depending on what the prospects are as a result of implementing the legislation which has been established. I believe it is not a matter of having a policy or not having a policy but about the contents of the legislation.

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