The House of Representatives was set Monday night to endorse an 81.79 trillion yen budget for fiscal 2003. The move would ensure the budget's enactment in time for the April 1 start of the new fiscal year.

The spending package was first to be put to a vote in the Lower House Budget Committee in the evening, where it was expected to be backed by the ruling coalition parties.

Once the budget clears the full Lower House, it will be sent to the House of Councilors for further deliberation.