Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held the ninth meeting of the Council on National Strategy and Policy at the Prime Minister's Office.
Discussion took place on the Medium-term Fiscal Framework, among other matters.
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said, "I would like to give instructions on two points on the Medium-term Fiscal Framework and FY2013 budget requests based on the discussion today.
First, as for the Medium-term Fiscal Framework, the basic approach is to uphold the general framework of the expenditure, which is 71 trillion yen, for realizing both fiscal soundness and economic growth. I would like the revision work to be carried forward promptly according to the basic principles discussed today with the Minister for National Policy taking the lead.
Second, as for the formulation of the FY2013 budget, it is necessary to boldly reformulate the budget beyond the border of ministries and agencies from the stage of budget requests, in order to input financial resources into the priority areas set forth in the Strategy for Rebirth of Japan. I would like the requesting ministers to act as appraisal ministers, eliminating the vertically segmented bureaucracy in offices and ministries, cooperating sufficiently, and examining the details of the requests for the revival of Japan from a cross-sectional perspective.
As for the Strategy for Rebirth of Japan formulated last month, its steady implementation is most important. I would like a system for promoting efforts by the entire government to be established with Minister Furukawa taking the lead."