ニュース 2010/04/01 First meeting of growth/regional strategy study group held On April 1, the first meeting of the Manifesto study group on the topic of growth and regional strategy was held. The members of the group, consisting of DPJ Diet members from both houses, met together to discuss policies toward the creation of a Manifesto for the House of Councillors Election. The basis for discussion were the “Detailed Policies” set forth in the Manifesto for the 2009 general election for the House of Representatives, and the results of the discussions would be submitted to the Manifesto Planning Committee. The study group is to be responsible for discussing fiscal measures relating to the fields of economy, trade and industry, land, infrastructure and transport, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and the environment. At the start of the meeting, study group Secretary General Nobutaka Tsutsui introduced Chair Akihiro Ohata, who addressed the meeting, saying, “A few days ago, I received a request from the Prime Minister asking me to accept the post of Chair. It is a heavy responsibility, but I would like to do my best to create a sound Manifesto, with your assistance.” He explained that the proposed schedule required the study group to create their own draft proposal for the relevant proportion of the Manifesto and submit it to the Manifesto Planning Committee by May 10. Ohata said that the study group would be responsible for dealing with issues relating to the Cabinet Office, the Financial Services Agency, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of Environment. He added, “In particular, at the end of last year Prime Minister Hatoyama announced a new policy called the new growth strategy, and his comments were aimed at creating a new wave [of growth] centred on the fields of the environment, tourism and health. We need to undertake a comprehensive review of last year’s Manifesto for the House of Representatives election bearing this in mind. In addition, I believe that science and technology are important.” Ohata described the challenge for the study group as being to discover how to create a new impetus in the three fields of the environment, tourism and health, in addition to science and technology, considering the current situation of the regional economy and the regions.