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The Meeting of the Government and Ruling Parties on Measures to Cope with Cold Waves and Measures Against Damage from Snow Wednesday, December 28, 2005 JAPANESE The Meeting of the Government and Ruling Parties on Measures to Cope with Cold Waves and Measures Against Damage from Snow was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, and the participants compiled a list of countermeasures, the essence of which is assistance for the people living in areas with heavy snowfall and disaster response. In regard to countermeasures, it was decided that the system for the removal of snow from major roads and prevention of road accidents caused by snow, as well as the safety of public transportation networks including trains and airplanes, will be inspected in order to ensure the lifelines of areas with heavy snowfall. It was also decided that the Government will grant special local allocation tax and allocate additional subsidies in order to secure the budget for the snow removal work carried out by local governments. In closing the meeting, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said in his address, "We will adjourn for the new year recess from tomorrow until January 3. In December the cold waves and heavy snowfalls have caused a lot of damage compared to average, as well as a number of deaths. I intend to make sure that the Government is prepared and equipped to cope with various situations and is ready to respond in close coordination with all the ministries and agencies concerned."