Five Cabinet members spoke out Tuesday on economic matters, with two, including Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa, calling for a reduction in public works for fiscal 2002, and the others discussing the need for a supplemental budget for the current fiscal year.

Shiokawa said he intends to seek a 10 percent cut in public works spending as he drafts the national budget for fiscal 2002.

"If we reassess projects, especially long-term ones, we may come up with a cut of, for example, around 10 percent," Shiokawa said, referring to public works spending in the budget for the next fiscal year, which begins April 1.