JCP Koike calls for resumption of additional benefits for elderly

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

JCP Koike calls for resumption of additional benefits for elderly

Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Koike Akira urged the government to reinstate the additional benefit for the elderly in the livelihood protection program at the November 17 House of Councilors Welfare Committee meeting.

Koike introduced the testimonies of elderly people who can hardly get out to see their families and friends because they cannot pay transportation fees due to the abolition of the additional benefit system.

While Welfare Minister Nagatsuma Akira responded to Koike that the government will consider the issue from various viewpoints, he expressed the opinion that it is difficult to immediately resume the system.

The JCP representative referred to the remark made by Nagatsuma when the DPJ was still an opposition force and submitted to the Diet with three other opposition parties (the Japanese Communist, Social Democratic, and People’s New parties) a bill to resume the additional payments of benefits for single-parent households (only mothers with dependent children) receiving welfare assistance: “The government decided to lower the most important national minimum standards without any persuasive reasons.”

“Since the abolition of the additional benefit for the elderly was also the state judgment to lower its minimum standards, it should immediately resumed,” Koike urged.

Nagatsuma responded by saying that the government will study the living conditions of elderly people.

Only JCP lawmaker takes the floor for questioning at Upper House committee meeting

It was supposed to be the first question and answer session in the House of Councilors Welfare Committee meeting in response to the Democratic Party of Japan-led government ministers’ policy speeches. However, Japanese Communist Party representative Koike Akira was the only one who took the floor in that meeting held on November 17.

The meeting ended up being Koike’s one-man show. Other political parties’ lawmakers applauded when Koike unflinchingly grilled the ministers.

The ruling DPJ avoided using its question time, even though the welfare administration faces urgent tasks regarding people’s livelihoods, including employment and medical, pension, and nursing care services. The current opposition Liberal Democratic and Komei parties also gave up their question time, saying, “We have not had the time to prepare.”

- Akahata, November 18, 2009