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2012/11/12
Hosono, Sasaki, Fujita question the achievements of the administration
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The basic question-and-answer session of the House of Representatives Committee on Budget attended by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and all Cabinet members commenced on the morning of November 12. From the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), Policy Research Committee Chair Goshi Hosono and House of Representatives members Ryuzo Sasaki and Kazue Fujita posed questions.
Hosono asked PM Noda and concerned Cabinet members for their opinions on: (1) The Manifesto, (2) Domestic affairs, (3) Security, (4) The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, (5) The amendment of the Public Offices Election Law, among other matters.
When asked for his impressions of the policy progress briefing that the DPJ held on November 10 and 11 covering the Manifesto for the 2009 general election, PM Noda expressed that, “Reviewing the Manifesto together with the voters is meaningful for reflecting the voices of the people in the next Manifesto. While there were many things that we were able to achieve, we must sincerely take to heart the fact that our outlook was optimistic back when we were an opposition party. It is an act of good faith to make a new start from here, and furthermore, this process is indispensable for continuing to hold elections based on manifestos. I offer a candid apology for the errors we have made. However, I would like to follow through with our philosophy without wavering.”
In response to questions on the limitations of the initiatives for reducing wasteful expenditures and the way forward for the Government, Deputy Prime Minister / Minister for Administrative Reform and Minister of State for Government Revitalization Katsuya Okada explained that proposals have already been submitted to the Diet concerning special accounts and reducing the number of independent administrative institutions. Okada noted, “Cutting subsidies was the most difficult, and it involved challenges. Individual subsidies that are wasteful in everyone’s eyes can be eliminated readily. However, subsidies that some people deem as necessary to a certain degree require convincing arguments about each and every one of them. This requires both time and effort.” Okada stated that in the meantime, “We established the review for government projects, which shed light on policy objectives and where funds ultimately flow to in their entirety. In addition, we created a system that reveals the budget flow of public interest corporations. The Government will continue to strive to reduce wasteful budget expenditures while verifying their necessity moving forward.”
Regarding domestic affairs, Hosono, giving the examples of the revival of medical care, the recovery of pension records which disappeared, and the strengthening of suicide countermeasures, underscored that the DPJ has promoted policies as a political party that creates an “inclusive society,” in which those who are economically independent and those who are in an economically weak position live in harmony. With regard to security, Hosono recognized that major features of the DPJ’s foreign and security policies are: the policy shift from the basic defense force concept to a dynamic defense force, which in turn enabled the dynamic operation of the Self-Defense Force units and the flexible and mobile deployment of Japan’s defense force; and Japan’s increased international contributions through expanded participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Hosono then asked PM Noda to once again share his understanding.
PM Noda stated that the philosophy which the DPJ set out at the time of its founding is universal—namely: (1) Aiming for a decentralized society, (2) Building a society governed with fair rules, and (3) Aiming for an inclusive society. The Prime Minister pledged, “We have promoted specific policies toward building a society in which people can live in harmony while respecting each other, and we will continue to further enhance these policies.” Concerning the security policy concept, PM Noda responded, “The principles of security are the basic philosophy of the Japanese Constitution, pacifism, and an exclusively defensive military doctrine.” “While healthy nationalism is necessary, one-sided and anti-foreign national sentiment will put the country at risk. Our basic stance is to take moderate and restrained measures, and we must continue to uphold this.”
Sasaki posed questions on: (1) The need for an approach which enables the establishment of the budget in tandem with the proposal on special provisions concerning issuance of government bonds, (2) Remote island-related measures for the management of Japan’s exclusive economic zone, (3) Measures to support cutting-edge science research, including the development and deployment of intellectual property experts, (4) Expansion of the independent financial resources of local governments and local economic measures, among other initiatives.
In regard to the issue of the special provisions concerning issuance of government bonds, PM Noda noted that he proposed to create rules at the three-party talks held between the leaders of the DPJ, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and New Komeito. He once again urged the opposition parties to cooperate, stating that, “Should we become an opposition party, we will be adhering to those rules. The proposal on special provisions concerning issuance of government bonds will therefore not be utilized for political purposes. It is like ‘disarmament’ in some sense. We cannot let the realization of policies fail by using these measures as a weapon. Let us pool our wisdom and obtain a final draft.”
Fujita asked questions about: (1) The Prime Minister’s commitment to establishing the National Council for Social Security System Reform, (2) The status of progress of child-rearing measures in light of the passage of the three pieces of legislation to assist children and child-rearing as part of the legislation related to the comprehensive reform of social security and taxation systems, and the way forward, (3) The steady implementation of the “Orange Plan” in response to the increasing number of elderly people with dementia, (4) Initiatives to help alleviate the shortage of nursing carers and nurses who actually support Japan’s social security system, (5) The current status of the verification tests of the offshore floating wind farm and future initiatives, and (6) The Government’s pledge to achieve the target of “increasing the share of women in leadership positions to 30% by 2020.”
Regarding the establishment of the National Council, PM Noda urged the attendants, “In order to firmly reassure people about the future of social security, the remaining issues of social security must be discussed at the National Council based on the three-party agreement. August 21 of next year is the deadline for reaching a conclusion about the National Council. The countdown to the deadline has already begun. In view of the time that remains, I would like to once again ask for the cooperation of the LDP and New Komeito so that the three parties can swiftly proceed with the talks, including regarding the selection of the members of the National Council, and start the discussions at the National Council as quickly as possible.”
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