The Cabinet on June 22 adopted a devolution strategy outline that covers the next two to three years. The decision is good news for local governments because it had been feared that following the sudden resignation of former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who was eager to push devolution, the Cabinet decision on devolution would not come until after the July 11 Upper House election. Three devolution-related bills already submitted to the Diet have been carried over to the next Diet session.
The outline calls for loosening 528 strict rules in administrative matters involving local governments and transferring power from the central government to local governments in 251 fields. The administration of Prime Minister Naoto Kan plans to submit related bills to the Diet in 2011.
Through looser rules, for example, local governments could have more freedom in operating vocational schools, such as setting the types of training and training periods, and in deciding the width and angle of barrier-free ramps in parks. Through transfer of power, they could develop urban planning in accordance with local conditions and carry out home-visit programs to help prematurely born infants even if they do not have public health centers in their area.