Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• The Ministerial Meeting on Decontamination and Special Waste Treatment

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I will start by giving an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved 16 general measures, as well as the draft legislation and personnel decisions. In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, I made a statement concerning acting Ministers while Ministers in charge are away on an overseas visit.

Prior to the Cabinet meeting the fourth meeting of the Ministerial Meeting on Decontamination and Special Waste Treatment was held. In this meeting the Minister of the Environment provided a report on the status of decontamination and waste treatment measures that have been implemented by the Government to date. Based on instructions recently received from Prime Minister Noda, the meeting participants also engaged in discussion on ways to further enhance the decontamination promotion structure and boost cooperation among the ministries and agencies concerned, in order to steadily implement the decontamination promotion package that has been compiled by the Minister of the Environment. During the meeting the ministers were able to confirm their shared intention to engage in wide-ranging efforts to pool knowledge and resources at each ministry and agency concerned, towards the resolution of such issues as the establishment of interim storage facilities, the establishment of final disposal sites for disaster-related waste and other major challenges. It was decided that the meeting would be convened again as necessary, in order to engage in follow-up concerning the various measures being implemented.

Q&As

• The Ministerial Meeting on Decontamination and Special Waste Treatment
• The matter of permission for the establishment of new universities

REPORTER: I have a question concerning the Ministerial Meeting on Decontamination and Special Waste Treatment. The law relating to the disposal of disaster-related waste was amended in January this year and this is the first meeting to be held since the amendment. What was the reason for convening the meeting today, in view of the fact that it was the first time for it to be held in 11 months, since the third meeting in December 2011?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Since the amendment of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Handling of Radioactive Pollution, various specific measures have been advanced in sequence. The reason for holding the meeting today was as I mentioned in my opening statement. The Prime Minister had given instructions that the decontamination promotion package that has been newly compiled by the Minister of the Environment should be disseminated to other ministerial colleagues with a view to further enhancing the overall system. This is something that should be done not only by the Ministry of the Environment, but with the dynamic participation of all ministries and agencies concerned. This was the reason the meeting was held today.

REPORTER: When you refer to enhancing the structure of the decontamination program, are you specifically referring to the need to further increase personnel?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The Ministry of the Environment will be requesting further personnel at the end of this year. However, this issue is not one that can been sufficiently dealt with by the Ministry of the Environment acting alone, and it will be necessary to seek the cooperation of various experts from other ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The meeting was held, therefore, to share a common recognition about this issue.

REPORTER: You mentioned the issue of interim storage facilities in your opening statement, but the current status is that surveys have yet to begin in earnest concerning such storage facilities. In his response to questions at the interpellation session of the Diet, the Prime Minister has also stated that he would like to begin surveys in the near term. In the meeting today did the participants discuss and share their recognition about this issue of interim storage facilities and how to coordinate with local governments with regard to decisions on actually implementing surveys?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: In the meeting it was noted that various candidate sites have been identified and persevering consultations are ongoing with the various prefectural governments and local communities concerned about specific locations, based on the recognition that interim storage facilities will be located within each prefecture. It was also noted that no concrete decisions have been made, but this is an issue that must be expedited in the future.

REPORTER: I have a question concerning the matter of permission for the establishment of new universities. According to some press reports, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) is considering holding a study group to deliberate the granting of permission for establishment of these universities. What are the facts of this case?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I hear that representatives of the three proposed universities are planning to present their requests to MEXT tomorrow. MEXT, which has jurisdiction over the national administration of education, will then make a decision on whether to grant permission for the establishment of the universities. I believe that MEXT will respond appropriately and provide thorough explanations to the representatives of the three proposed universities.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: The communities in which the proposed universities are to be established and also the representatives of the universities have objected (to suggestions that permission may not be granted) and I believe that further coordination will be required on this matter. Are we to understand that the Government has not yet made a final decision with regard to the opening of these proposed universities at the beginning of the next academic year?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The final decision will be made by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Neither the Prime Minister nor I have jurisdiction over such matters.

(Abridged)