Prime Minister Naoto Kan attended a meeting of the Forum for Consultations between the National and Regional Governments held at the Prime Minister's Office.

Those attending the meeting on the national government's side were: Mr. Yukio Edano, Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister of State for Government Revitalization; Mr. Yoshihiro Katayama, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications and Minister of State for Promotion of Local Sovereignty; Mr. Ritsuo Hosokawa, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare; Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for National Policy; Mr. Fumihiko Igarashi, Senior Vice Minister of Finance; and others. On the regional government's side were representatives of six regional organizations. Discussion took place on the child allowance and the establishment of subcommittees - one under the Forum for Consultations between the National and Regional Governments and another on the comprehensive reform of social security and taxation systems.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address, "I included several items in the agenda today in order to consult, or solicit opinions, on these specific issues. In particular, I would like to make an announcement concerning the child allowance.
On August 4, a certain agreement was reached in the Diet among the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and the New Komeito. However, given that the local governments are in charge of the administration of child allowance, the three-party agreement includes the recognition that it is necessary to have sufficient discussion with them at this Forum for Consultations between the National and Regional Governments concerning the content of the agreement as well as the future direction for policy on this matter.
I would therefore like to confer with you about what kind of agreement or mutual understanding is needed concerning the future direction of the child allowance in order to proceed forward smoothly."