Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

• The Reconstruction Promotion Council

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:

(Abridged)

I have one more item to report, concerning the 3rd meeting of the Reconstruction Promotion Council, which was held today. The meeting received an explanation from Dr. Makoto Iokibe, chairman of the committee, concerning the FY2012 Reconstruction Promotion Committee Mid-term Report, sharing awareness of the issues and engaging in specific considerations concerning the response of the Government to the four priority challenges towards reconstruction, and ways to further accelerate construction efforts. In addition, in order to comprehensively promote measures relating to the reconstruction and rebirth of Fukushima from the nuclear disaster, it was decided in the meeting today that a Nuclear Disaster Reconstruction Promotion Team, headed by Minister Hirano and myself, would be established under the auspices of the Reconstruction Promotion Council. There was also discussion on budget allocation for reconstruction measures. Prime Minister Noda stated that under the policy of recovery and reconstruction of the disaster-affected areas being of the highest priority, and also in view of the changing circumstances between the time the disaster struck and the present, it will be necessary to further strictly target the reconstruction projects that are truly necessary, from the perspectives of urgency and immediate effectiveness. The Prime Minister therefore expressed the wish that the ministers responsible for the various projects under their jurisdiction would respond in accordance with this need. For further details concerning the meeting, please direct your questions to the Reconstruction Agency.

Q&As

• The Reconstruction Promotion Council and the use of reconstruction-related budget

REPORTER: With regard to the Reconstruction Promotion Committee, I believe that Dr. Iokibe referred to the way in which budgetary allocation for reconstruction is being used, noting that it is proper and reasonable for such budgetary allocation to be strictly prioritized for measures that focus on the disaster regions themselves. He pointed out that this raises an issue in terms of the response being made by the Government. What is the Government's reaction to these observations and what response will be made?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: One further comment made by Dr. Iokibe was his reference to the proper use of reconstruction-related budget under the three-party agreement for disaster management nationwide. There were various discussions on this matter in the meeting and the Prime Minister concluded the meeting with the comments I have just mentioned. To repeat them again, the Prime Minister stated that as had been noted by Minister for Reconstruction Hirano and Minister of Finance Jojima, under the policy of recovery and reconstruction of the disaster-affected areas being of the highest priority, and also in view of the changing circumstances between the time the disaster struck and the present, it will be necessary to further strictly target the reconstruction projects that are truly necessary, from the perspectives of urgency and immediate effectiveness. The Prime Minister therefore expressed the wish that the ministers responsible for the various projects under their jurisdiction would respond in accordance with this need.

REPORTER: In relation to the reconstruction budget, is it the case that Deputy Prime Minister Okada, who is part of the Government Revitalization Unit, has said today that a meeting comprising external experts could be convened, for example?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The Deputy Prime did indeed make such comments. The issue of reconstruction budget is naturally included within the review of the Government Revitalization Unit, and he therefore stated that if there are any issues outstanding then he would seek to create an opportunity to hear the opinions of experts in a public forum.

REPORTER: Despite the fact that the Deputy Prime Minister has made this statement, is it still the case that the Government's basic stance is that as noted by the Prime Minister, that the budgetary matters will be predominantly coordinated and scrutinized by the Reconstruction Agency and the Ministry of Finance?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Yes, as I have just noted, the current situation is one in which the Reconstruction Agency has advisory powers, with the Ministry of Finance engaging in detailed examination of budget requests.

(Abridged)