Prime Minister Naoto Kan held the fourth meeting of the Headquarters of the Government and Ruling Parties for Social Security Reform at the Prime Minister's Office.

Discussion took place on the Basic Policy for the Number System for Social Security and Taxation, which is based on the philosophy of promoting equity and fairness, reducing burdens, and improving convenience for the people by providing an infrastructure to confirm the identity of personal information and other data kept by multiple institutions, among other considerations.
Additionally, the decision was made to establish a Headquarters to Promote the Launch of the Identification Number System, for the purpose of promoting the realization of a society that is highly convenient for the people through the identification number system for social security and taxation.

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said, "The identification number system will allow the people to receive better and, above all, equitable treatment, with regard to social security benefits and tax payments. I therefore ask you to make efforts to seek the full understanding of the people. I also ask you to make sure that the system will not infringe on privacy."