House of Councilors Budget Committee Public Hearing: Experts give opinions on countermeasures for declining birthrate, strengthening of defense capabilities, etc.

The House of Councilors Budget Committee held a public hearing to hear opinions from experts regarding the new fiscal year's budget proposal, and experts recommended by each party gave their opinions on measures to counter the declining birthrate and strengthen defense capabilities.

Hisao Endo, a professor at the Faculty of Economics at Gakushuin University and recommended by the New Komeito Party, said of the subsidy system, which is a financial source for countermeasures against the declining birthrate, ``Creating a completely new system for this purpose would incur social costs. I understand that it was chosen as the framework for procuring funds for the subsidy because it was considered the most appropriate.As the birthrate declines, it becomes difficult to maintain medical insurance, so it is compatible with the subsidy system.'' said.

Regarding agricultural policy, Takumi Sakuyama, a full-time professor at Meiji University's Faculty of Agriculture, who was recommended by the Constitutional Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party, said, ``The price of imported goods such as fertilizers and domestic food items will rise, and both agricultural producers and consumers will be hit hard.'' If the price of agricultural products rises further through price-passing by producers, it will affect low-income consumers.In order to supplement the income of producers, measures such as direct payments from the government are necessary. You should take it.''

Regarding the collection of information in cyberspace, Shorin Takamizawa, a visiting professor at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Public Policy, who was nominated by the Liberal Democratic Party, said, ``While other countries are focusing on gathering information in cyberspace, Japan has not done that.Currently. "The Japan-U.S. alliance is a prerequisite, but we cannot do anything without information from the United States. We need to improve our own information, and we need to consider building a system that takes all aspects into consideration." I pointed it out.

Katsuki Takada, former commander of the Ground Self-Defense Force's Ground Forces, who was recommended by the Japan Restoration Society and the Association for Achieving Free Education, commented on strengthening defense capabilities, saying, ``We need not look at the situation in Ukraine to develop unmanned defense capabilities. This is a capability that needs to be developed as soon as possible. The legal status of drones operated by the Self-Defense Forces, such as the Aviation Act, is at the level of private operators, and is not designed for emergencies. We need to move forward with the development of legislation as soon as possible." said.