Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved 12 general and other measures, a cabinet order, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister of Finance made a statement concerning the passage of the FY2015 budget. Prime Minister Abe made a statement concerning acting Ministers while Ministers in charge are away on overseas visits.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, Minister Arimura made a statement concerning the promotion of paternity leaves and work absence among male national public servants. The Minister of Finance made a statement concerning the Budget Execution Survey.

Today, after the Cabinet meeting, the eighth meeting of the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation was held. During the meeting, expert members of the Council presented their views on the drafting of the Fifth Science and Technology Basic Plan, and discussions took place. In addition, a report was made on the status of the efforts towards the holding of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Tokyo Games. By June, the Government will compile an interim report on the Fifth Basic Plan and present a direction of the Abe Cabinet’s policy on science, technology and innovation.

Tomorrow, April 11, Prime Minister Abe will tour sites in both Ishikawa and Fukui Prefectures which are related to the Government’s initiative to vitalize local economies. Specifically, the Prime Minister will first travel to Kanazawa aboard the Hokuriku Shinkansen that commenced service on March 14. Subsequently, in both prefectures, the Prime Minister will listen to and exchange views with the people concerned regarding matters such as industrial revitalization, agricultural revitalization, people’s relocation to local regions, and young people’s thought taking up jobs in local economies.      

Q&As

(Abridged)