Substantive deliberations on the new fiscal year's budget bill began on the 5th at the House of Representatives Budget Committee. Prime Minister Kishida announced his intention to compile the results of a survey of all affiliated members of the Liberal Democratic Party early next week regarding the issue of political funding by factions of the Liberal Democratic Party.
House of Representatives Budget Committee starts about an hour late
The House of Representatives Budget Committee started about an hour late due to ongoing discussions between the ruling and opposition parties regarding the issue of a faction of the Liberal Democratic Party's political funding party, and the Liberal Democratic Party took questions in the morning.
Former Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Kato: ``It is necessary for the Liberal Democratic Party to respond responsibly.''
Former Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Kato said, ``It is our responsibility as the Liberal Democratic Party to clarify why such widespread inappropriate accounting treatment was carried out and where exactly the money was used.'' We need to respond," he said.
In response, Prime Minister Kishida said, ``Party executives, including outside lawyers, have begun interviewing relevant parties one by one to ascertain the circumstances that led to the omission and the purpose of use.As much as possible, we will do so within this week.'' We plan to complete the work with the goal of 2020, and then have an external third party compile the report."
In addition, ``We will conduct a survey of all members of the party this week to determine whether there are any omissions in income and expenditure reports related to political funding parties of policy groups, and we plan to compile the results early next week.'' I would like to fulfill the necessary accountability as a party, taking into consideration the progress made in this matter."
Prime Minister: Earthquake support funds "households that cannot easily borrow funds will also be eligible"
Regarding the response to the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, Prime Minister Kishida also stated that regarding new support funds to be provided to households with elderly people whose homes were more than partially destroyed, ``borrowing and repaying funds will not be easy.'' We would like to make prospective households eligible for the system in the same way as households with elderly people.''
Prime Minister: Exporting defense equipment to third countries ``I will do my best to explain to the ruling party to get their agreement''
▽Meanwhile, regarding the export of defense equipment jointly developed with other countries to third countries, with the next generation of fighter jets being developed with the UK and Italy in mind, Prime Minister Kishida said, ``Joint development with the UK and Italy is not possible. From next month onwards, it is expected that full-fledged discussions will begin between the development companies regarding the division of work.For this reason, the end of this month has been designated as the time to reach a conclusion between the ruling parties, and the government will also provide detailed explanations in order to obtain agreement from the ruling parties. I will do my best.''