Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I would like to comment on the Forum for Consultations between the National and Regional Governments held this afternoon, which marks the third extraordinary meeting of the forum. This afternoon, the Forum for Consultations between the National and Regional Governments (third extraordinary meeting) was held and attended by Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Yoko Komiya as an acting member. In the forum, discussion was held with regional governments about the child allowance. After Minister Komiya provided an explanation about the proposal for how to handle the local tax revenue surplus that is to accompany the abolishment of the tax breaks for families with children under the age of 16, for which there is no designated use as of present, as well as what will become of the child allowance system starting from fiscal 2012, an opinion exchange was held among the participants. In the opinion exchange, the regional governments requested that local allocation taxes be properly secured, and we acquired the understanding of all regional government participants concerning the fact that we would be formulating a budget in line with the said proposal. Finally, I requested that everyone carry out the necessary work for the budget moving forward, and with that concluded the discussions. You have already been provided a briefing, but if you have more detailed inquiries, please forward them to the Office for "Local Sovereignty" Strategy and the related ministry, which in this case is the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

(Abridged)

Q&As

REPORTER: The Prime Minister had been considering visiting the affected areas in Miyagi and Iwate within the year. What is the current status of these considerations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: He did not make an official announcement, but it is true that he was planning to visit. The Prime Minister was planning to visit Miyagi, Iwate, and other areas within the coming days in order to assess the latest situation at the affected areas. However, I hear that his visit has been postponed in order to ensure a seamless response by the Government in light of the news of the death of North Korean National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-Il. I hear that he still intends to visit the affected areas, including Fukushima Prefecture, as soon as possible.

(Abridged)