Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

• The seventh meeting of the Headquarters for Administrative Reform Implementation
• The third meeting of the Committee for the Promotion of the Private Finance Initiative

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The seventh meeting of the Headquarters for Administrative Reform Implementation was held today. At the meeting, a schedule pertaining to the sale, etc. of state-owned and other assets was decided. Also, there was a briefing on a report of the research committee on the modality of the Japan Housing Finance Agency. In addition, Deputy Prime Minister Katsuya Okada requested ministries to take steps to review their bureaucratic culture as well as to review programs in the process of drawing up the budget. For more information on these, I ask that you please direct your questions to the Secretariat of the Headquarters for Administrative Reform Implementation.

I have one more announcement. Following the meeting of the Headquarters, the third meeting of the Committee for the Promotion of the Private Finance Initiative was held, again with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda attending. Pursuant to the Act on Promotion of Private Finance Initiative (PFI Act), the Committee is chaired by the Prime Minister, and all Ministers of State serve as members. At the start of the meeting, the Prime Minister asked that everyone continue to demonstrate leadership in order for the Government as a whole to promote PFI. Two items were on the agenda at today's meeting. The first concerned guidelines regarding the Government's unified measures to further promote PFI projects. This was to ensure that all ministers share a common understanding as efforts are made to promote PFI projects. The second concerned the establishment of a taskforce of the Committee for the Promotion of the Private Finance Initiative. Under the Committee, a taskforce comprised of relevant officials will be established. For details, please refer to Parliamentary Secretary of Cabinet Office Yasuhiro Sonoda, who I believe is holding a press conference at this moment.

Q&As

• TEPCO's restructuring plan including the restarting operations at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Yesterday, the procedures for the de facto nationalization of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) were completed, and I believe the process will now be moving into the execution phase. I would like to know what your thoughts are on the restarting of operations at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station, which is assumed in the restructuring plan of TEPCO.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The Special Business Plan (of TEPCO) is based on the assumption that Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station will restart operations gradually from April 2013. Meanwhile, TEPCO also considers that the restarting of nuclear power stations must be based on local understanding, while safety and security are ensured. I believe TEPCO will address this matter appropriately. In other words, if a need arises to review the plan, then I believe it is possible that the plan itself will be reviewed.

(Abridged)