The government panel on devolution has submitted its third set of recommendations to Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, calling for the relaxation or abolition of 892 items, most of them related to administrative service standards for local residents. These standards are imposed by the central government on local governments, and the items in question should be reviewed in earnest.

Internal Affairs Minister Kazuhiro Haraguchi showed a positive approach, saying that his ministry will give priority to reviewing 103 items that have been fiercely criticized by local governments. These items include the minimum floor space per child required in nursery schools (1.98 square meters), the minimum width of roads connecting residential areas to main roads (two meters) and the maximum income of people eligible to live in public housing (¥158,000 per month).

Relaxing or abolishing these standards will help local governments improve services for residents, construct more nursery schools, and have generally more flexibility in dealing with problems.

The devolution panel was established in April 2007 when the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito were in power. While in opposition, the Democratic Party of Japan called for expanding devolution beyond the scope envisaged by the panel. Bureaucrats in the central government's ministries and agencies may offer strong resistance to the proposed review of the standards. Mr. Haraguchi and other Cabinet ministers should join forces to overcome any such resistance.

Mr. Haraguchi has aired the idea of creating a permanent body to push for devolution, with the participation of Cabinet members, local government heads and representatives from the private sector. At the center of discussions sourrounding this idea will be how to strengthen the financial position of local governments. The DPJ has been calling for the abolition of subsidies that come with instructions from central government ministries and agencies, but simply imposing such a plan could be counterproductive. The government should first listen to the opinions of local governments.