Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• Subsidies for municipalities in order to implement decontamination work after the nuclear accident

(Abridged)

REPORTER: According to press reports, 53 municipalities designated as areas for focused studies on the contamination situation in the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station nuclear accident of the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), are feeling frustrated by the fact that to date, their respective decontamination implementation plans submitted last fiscal year have not received the Government approval necessary for receiving subsidies. What is the outlook on this approval process?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I understand that as of now, discussions have been completed for the plans of 45 of the 104 designated municipalities. In addition, in fact, I believe there are two types of subsidies for decontamination - the portion provided by prefectures and the portion provided by the Government. For both of these subsidies, I understand there are ongoing efforts to conclude the discussions swiftly. Also, with regard to the provision of subsidies, arrangements are being made so that even if there are municipalities which have not established a plan, they may still apply for subsidies for programs which will be implemented with certainty. These programs will be implemented once the subsidies are approved. Furthermore, 33 municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture have established plans based on the Basic Policy for Emergency Response on Decontamination Work, and I understand that decontamination work is now underway in accordance with this policy. However, I believe it is probably true that there are some delays. I will therefore give out instructions to speed up the coordination with the municipalities on the subsidy applications and so on in order to be able to promptly carry out the decontamination.