Suga targets science council, citing need for broad review

rime Mi n i s - ter Yoshihide Suga said he is considering an organizational review of the Science Council of Japan as a part of administrative reforms he is aiming to achieve.

The government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party plan to cooperate in moving forward with the review of the council. Its budget and the size of its membership will likely become the main points of contention in the discussions.

Suga indicated his desire for a review of the council in an interview with the Cabinet press club.

As a reason for his refusal to appoint six candidates to the science council, the prime minister reiterated the need to “ensure the council’s activities with a comprehensive view from a broad perspective.”

He added: “[ The Science Council of Japan] should conduct well- balanced activities with a wider viewpoint and, as an organ that is operated with state funds, it should have the understanding of the people. With these things in mind, we need to make a judgment [on its personnel affairs].”

The LDP will set up a project team soon to discuss the nature of the council.

Taro Kono, state minister in charge of administrative and regulatory reform, also indicated his intention to review the council at a press conference on the day, saying, “We’ll discuss the budget, structure and number of members without exception toward the end of the year.”

Suga said: “Attention has been paid to the role of the science council. If, taking advantage of this opportunity, the question of how the council should be moves in the right direction, I’d like to welcome the move.”

He also stated, “As state funds have been injected [into the Science Council of Japan], it is natural to promote [a review] in terms of administrative reform.”

Concerning the rejection of the six candidates, he again stressed that “the procedure has been completed and there will be no change.”

However, when asked about the council seeking an explanation for his rejection, he said, “If council President [Takaaki] Kajita wants to meet me, I’m ready to meet him.”

Suga also said that he did not look at a list of candidates at the stage of recommendation by the council, mentioning that the six candidates had already been excluded when

he received an explanation from administrative officials, immediately before he finally approved the personnel matter on Sept. 28.