The Finance Ministry's top bureaucrat said Monday his ministry will examine whether to expand the use of special revenues appropriated for road construction, as proposed by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa.
It "is an issue that needs to be addressed and we will conduct (a review) based on instructions from the prime minister and finance minister," Vice Finance Minister Toshiro Muto said.
Koizumi said earlier in the day the government will reach a basic conclusion before an Upper House election in July.
The funds tied to road construction amount to 5.8 trillion yen for fiscal 2001, which began April 1. Road construction forms a major component of annual public works projects.
Muto said his ministry has received no instructions so far to complete the review by the election.
A governmental panel on national economic and fiscal policy is also expected to come up with directions on use of the special revenues in its budgetary guidelines to be compiled in June.