Policy for Handling of the Final Report of the Administrative Reform Council

December 4, 1997
Cabinet Decision

(Provisional Translation)

1. The expectations of the nation for administrative reform are extremely great, and thus the responsibility of the government is grave. For this reason, we will respect the contents of the final report of the Administrative Reform Council (issued on December 3, 1997) to the greatest degree possible and immediately adopt preparatory arrangements for the tasks including the reorganization of central government ministries and agencies.

2. In the next ordinary session of the National Diet, we shall present a basic legislative bill for the reorganization of central government ministries and agencies (hereafter referred to as "basic bill"), and seek its passage. For the preparation of the basic bill, we hereby establish a Preparatory Committee for Central Government Reorganization (hereafter referred to as "Committee").

(1) The Committee shall be composed as indicated below. However, attendance of persons other than the members may be requested as necessary.

Chairman	Prime Minister
Vice-Chairmen	Chief Cabinet Secretary Minister of State in Charge of Administrative Reform
Members	All other Ministers of State

(2) The Committee will have secretaries; these shall consist of the following persons:: Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Administrative)
Special Advisor to the Prime Minister for Administrative Reform
Deputy Director-General of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau
All Administrative Vice-Ministers
Director-General of the National Police Agency
Director of the Cabinet Councillors' Office on Internal Affairs
Deputy Vice-Minister of the Prime Minister's Office

(3) The Committee shall have a small number of advisors. The advisors will be appointed by the Chairman from among academic experts well-versed in administrative law and other subjects; they will deliberate on the contents of the basic bill and will be given authority to express their views.

(4) The general affairs of the Committee shall be handled by the Cabinet Secretariat; for this purpose, a Preparatory Office for the Basic Bill to Reorganize Central Government (hereafter referred to as "Preparatory Office") is hereby established within the Cabinet Secretariat.

(5) The Preparatory Office shall have a director, a deputy director, and other staff members as necessary.

(6) Matters relating to the operation of the Preparatory Committee and any other matters necessary shall be determined by the Chairman.

3. After the basic bill is passed, a Central Government Reorganization Headquarters (tentatively named) and its Secretariat shall be established to carry out the necessary preparations for the shift to the new organizational setup, including relevant legislative measures. When the Headquarters and Secretariat are established, the Preparatory Committee and Preparatory Office shall be abolished.

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