Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano

(Abridged)

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Lastly, in my capacity as Minister of State for Government Revitalization, I would like to speak about the review of government programs related to the reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake. Last Friday, as you are aware, the Basic Policy on Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake was decided. In order to implement truly necessary and effective measures for reconstruction, programs need to be evaluated appropriately from the perspectives of efficiency, transparency, priority, and other perspectives from the stage of the program's design. Thus, the Basic Policy on Reconstruction states that each government office and ministry shall take the necessary steps based on the decision made at the July 21 meeting of the Government Revitalization Unit regarding the review of reconstruction-related programs.
On this basis, the secretariat of the Government Revitalization Unit will be notifying each office and ministry about the necessary items for the review of reconstruction-related programs. At the roundtable ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting today, I asked each minister to see to it that their offices and ministries carry out thorough reviews of their programs from the design stage. We will make efforts to ensure that reconstruction-related programs are implemented, which will contribute to reviving the society and economy and restoring normalcy to people's lives in the disaster areas and to bringing vigor back to Japan.

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the issue of Reactor No. 3 at Tomari Nuclear Power Station in Hokkaido. Yesterday, housewives from Hokkaido filed a lawsuit, which requests that the national government not issue to the Hokkaido Electric Power Company (HEPCO) the document certifying the completion of inspections, which is needed for the reactor to resume operations. The women stress that the current safety guidelines of the state are faulty as they do not assume the loss of all power supplies of the nuclear power station, and that it is illegal to approve the resumption of operations so long as this issue is not resolved. Furthermore, they contend that the stress test should also be a criterion for the resumption of operations. What impact do you think this lawsuit will have on the future resumption of operations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have seen the news reports. However, the complaint, etc. have not yet arrived. Once the complaint, etc. arrive, we would like to give careful consideration to this matter.

REPORTER: I have a related question. You have already indicated your understanding that Reactor No. 3 at Tomari Nuclear Power Station is "in operation" since it continues to operate on a test basis. Although Hokkaido has sent an inquiry to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) regarding whether or not the situation is regarded as the resumption of operations as of July 14, METI has not yet responded. Why can't it respond to the inquiry? Also, does the Government or the Prime Minister's Office have any intention to instruct the unresponsive METI to respond or encourage it to respond?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have already consulted the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry regarding this matter. Since it is a critical issue, we are giving it careful consideration.

REPORTER: Is there a target date by which a response will be provided?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: We hope to provide an appropriate response based on careful considerations.

REPORTER: I have a question related to the review of reconstruction-related programs which you mentioned a moment ago. By carrying out the reviews, I believe it becomes very difficult to simultaneously implement the programs with a sense of urgency. What are your opinions on this issue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: We say "review," but there are a variety of ways of carrying out reviews. For the particular purposes at hand, the Government Revitalization Unit is considering the use of program sheets for the review of government programs. These sheets are principally used to check programs after they are implemented. However, according to this approach, the ministries are expected to submit, in advance from the program's planning stage, a document which outlines in an easy to understand way actually how, through what route, the money is used for reconstruction and for what purposes. Then, as the program is being implemented, we will be able to thoroughly review how its progress and effects towards actual reconstruction are in line with the program's initial objectives and goals towards reconstruction.
This is our basic stance. Regarding whether or not we can spend time reviewing programs one by one in terms of their nature, of course this will become necessary for the formulation of the supplementary budget. While there is of course the issue of speed, the reconstruction will indeed require some length of time. In this context, we believe that from the start we should be ready to consistently review whether the reconstruction and measures are making effective progress. At the same time, we believe the creation of such types of review sheets will also have significance for the considerations made by the respective ministries to effectively and efficiently carry out reconstruction work.

REPORTER: I have a question related to the subject of reconstruction. When you said that the Government Revitalization Unit will notify the necessary items for the program review, are you referring to a type of program sheet like the one you were just discussing? Also, as a general picture, do you envision about how many personnel and how much time will be involved for the program review?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: It will be different from a program review sheet, but it will be very much based on it. We will ask the ministries to prepare a sheet which shows the flow of money and the contents of the reconstruction program in a very easy to understand way, and the collected information will be disclosed to the public in principle, which we believe has significance. Indeed, speed will be sought in implementing these programs, and at the same time, the budget bureau of the Ministry of Finance will naturally be conducting checks for the formulation of the supplementary budget. Therefore, what the Government Revitalization Unit wants to do is not to be the first ones checking the programs. We believe there is significant meaning to asking the ministries to prepare these sheets and to be disclosing them for the public to see.

(Abridged)