The Liberal Democratic Party and two small opposition parties appeared close to reaching an agreement Friday on distributing merchandise coupons to the public to boost personal consumption.
The LDP is planning to include the scheme in the third supplementary budget bill if the party agrees with Shinto Heiwa (New Peace Party) and Komei on the details of the plan next week, according to the party officials. During their third round of meetings on the coupons, the LDP proposed to limit the recipients to senior citizens, low-income people and families with children age 15 or younger.
While Shinto Heiwa and Komei call for issuing 30,000 yen worth of coupons to each citizen with a limited validity of one year, the LDP has opposed the idea, saying it would be tantamount to scattering money. The opposition camps will discuss the LDP proposal and will reply on Monday, the officials said.
But, it is likely that the parties will accept the LDP's proposal on condition that the range of coupons recipient be expanded later, according to a Heiwa official. They have yet to reach an agreement on the total amount of the coupon scheme.
The LDP's proposal would target recipients of senior welfare pensions and public assistance as well as families who have children 15 or younger as an incentive for having more children.