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2012年05月05日
再生エネ発電 買い取り制には課題が多い
The Yomiuri Shimbun (May. 2, 2012)
Problems surround govt plan for renewable energy purchases
再生エネ発電 買い取り制には課題が多い（5月1日付・読売社説）
A feed-in tariff system for electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power will face many difficult problems.
太陽光や風力など再生可能エネルギーの買い取り制度は、多くの難題を抱えている。
An expert panel of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry has made a proposal on prices at which electric power companies will purchase electricity generated by renewable energy under the system.
経済産業省の有識者委員会が、再生可能エネルギーで発電した電気を電力会社が買い取る価格の案をまとめた。
The government will officially decide on recommended rates within May, and power companies will become obliged to buy the electricity from July.
政府が５月中に正式決定し、７月から電力会社に買い取りが義務づけられる。
The proposed rates are 42 yen per kilowatt-hour for solar power, 23 yen for wind power and 27 yen for geothermal power.
価格案は、１キロ・ワット時当たり、太陽光が４２円、風力２３円、地熱２７円などとなっている。
The rates were calculated by adding appropriate profits to the usual costs of each generation method, the panel said. However, they are almost the same as the rates that were requested in advance by renewable energy producers and were higher than widely expected.
有識者委は、それぞれの発電方法で通常かかる費用に、適正な利益を上乗せしたと説明している。しかし、各発電業界が事前に示した要望額とほぼ同じで、大方の予想より割高と言える。
With the proposed prices, the panel apparently aims to promote the expansion of the renewable energy generation business by encouraging more companies to enter the field. However, the feed-in tariff system's design itself is precarious.
自然エネルギー発電への参入を後押しし、普及に弾みをつける狙いだろう。だが、制度設計そのものに危ういところがある。
===
Higher electricity prices
The costs utility companies will shoulder to buy the renewable-energy electricity at high rates will be passed on through electricity rates in general.
電力会社が高値で買い入れた負担分は電気料金に上乗せされる。
The economy ministry estimates the resulting electricity charge hike for an ordinary household to be 70 yen to 100 yen per month in the first fiscal year, but it apparently will further increase along with the spread of power generation from renewable sources.
経産省は一般家庭の負担増は、初年度で月７０〜１００円にとどまると試算しているが、普及につれて負担額は増え続ける。
Special measures will exempt steel and other industries that consume huge amounts of electricity from more than 80 percent of the increased portion of electricity rates.
鉄鋼など電力多消費産業には、料金上乗せ分の８割以上を減免する特例が適用される。
However, after a government subsidy to supplement the reduced portion of electricity revenues runs out, it will be passed on to other industries and ordinary households through their electricity rates.
料金の減収分を穴埋めする補助金が底をつくと、これも他業種や家庭の電気料金の上昇へと跳ね返る。
If the costs are not shared in a balanced manner, a sense of unfairness will spread among the public.
コスト負担のバランスを欠けば不公平感が拡大するだろう。
Japan is now in an emergency situation because all but one of its nuclear power reactors have been suspended and thermal power generation requires an additional 3 trillion yen to 4 trillion yen a year for fuel costs. An increase in electricity costs must be avoided by all means.
今は、原子力発電所が停止し、火力発電の燃料費が年３兆〜４兆円も余計にかかる非常時である。電力コストの上昇は、極力避けなければならない。
If the feed-in tariff system causes electricity rates to rise, the government will have to flexibly reduce the recommended rates.
再生可能エネルギー買い取りの影響で電力料金の上昇幅が拡大した場合、政府は買い取り価格を機動的に下げる必要があろう。
===
Denuclearization not easy
In fact, Germany, which is more advanced in its feed-in tariff system than Japan, last year saw the added portion of electricity rates for an ordinary household exceed 1,200 yen per month. Facing public protest, the German government this spring lowered the recommended rates by 20 percent to 30 percent. The Spanish government in January suspended applying its feed-in tariff system to new renewable energy generation projects.
実際、買い取り制度で先行するドイツでは昨年、一般家庭の料金上乗せ分が月１２００円に膨らんだ。国民の反発を受け、今年春に買い取り価格を２〜３割下げた。スペインでは今年１月、新規買い取りの凍結に追い込まれた。
The experience of other countries shows that it is difficult to maintain electricity generation from renewable sources as long as generation costs remain expensive, even if a government tries to support it with policy measures.
海外の事例は、再生可能エネルギーを政策支援で普及させても、発電コストが高いままでは維持が難しいことを示している。
Many expectations are voiced for industrial promotion and job growth related to new energy businesses such as the manufacture of solar panels, but the reality is grim. In Germany, a major solar panel maker and other firms went under one after another in the face of pressure from Chinese products with smaller price tags.
太陽光パネルなど新エネルギー関連の産業振興や雇用増を期待する声も多いが、現実は厳しい。ドイツでは、割安な中国製に押されて、大手パネルメーカーなどの破綻が相次いだ。
Solar and wind power generation have many difficulties regarding the procurement of land for sites and the durability of generation facilities. The road to independence from nuclear power generation is not an easy one.
太陽光、風力発電は、用地確保や発電設備の耐久性などに課題が多い。「脱原発依存」への道は決して平坦(へいたん)ではない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 1, 2012)
（2012年5月1日01時10分 読売新聞）
Problems surround govt plan for renewable energy purchases
再生エネ発電 買い取り制には課題が多い（5月1日付・読売社説）
A feed-in tariff system for electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power will face many difficult problems.
太陽光や風力など再生可能エネルギーの買い取り制度は、多くの難題を抱えている。
An expert panel of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry has made a proposal on prices at which electric power companies will purchase electricity generated by renewable energy under the system.
経済産業省の有識者委員会が、再生可能エネルギーで発電した電気を電力会社が買い取る価格の案をまとめた。
The government will officially decide on recommended rates within May, and power companies will become obliged to buy the electricity from July.
政府が５月中に正式決定し、７月から電力会社に買い取りが義務づけられる。
The proposed rates are 42 yen per kilowatt-hour for solar power, 23 yen for wind power and 27 yen for geothermal power.
価格案は、１キロ・ワット時当たり、太陽光が４２円、風力２３円、地熱２７円などとなっている。
The rates were calculated by adding appropriate profits to the usual costs of each generation method, the panel said. However, they are almost the same as the rates that were requested in advance by renewable energy producers and were higher than widely expected.
有識者委は、それぞれの発電方法で通常かかる費用に、適正な利益を上乗せしたと説明している。しかし、各発電業界が事前に示した要望額とほぼ同じで、大方の予想より割高と言える。
With the proposed prices, the panel apparently aims to promote the expansion of the renewable energy generation business by encouraging more companies to enter the field. However, the feed-in tariff system's design itself is precarious.
自然エネルギー発電への参入を後押しし、普及に弾みをつける狙いだろう。だが、制度設計そのものに危ういところがある。
===
Higher electricity prices
The costs utility companies will shoulder to buy the renewable-energy electricity at high rates will be passed on through electricity rates in general.
電力会社が高値で買い入れた負担分は電気料金に上乗せされる。
The economy ministry estimates the resulting electricity charge hike for an ordinary household to be 70 yen to 100 yen per month in the first fiscal year, but it apparently will further increase along with the spread of power generation from renewable sources.
経産省は一般家庭の負担増は、初年度で月７０〜１００円にとどまると試算しているが、普及につれて負担額は増え続ける。
Special measures will exempt steel and other industries that consume huge amounts of electricity from more than 80 percent of the increased portion of electricity rates.
鉄鋼など電力多消費産業には、料金上乗せ分の８割以上を減免する特例が適用される。
However, after a government subsidy to supplement the reduced portion of electricity revenues runs out, it will be passed on to other industries and ordinary households through their electricity rates.
料金の減収分を穴埋めする補助金が底をつくと、これも他業種や家庭の電気料金の上昇へと跳ね返る。
If the costs are not shared in a balanced manner, a sense of unfairness will spread among the public.
コスト負担のバランスを欠けば不公平感が拡大するだろう。
Japan is now in an emergency situation because all but one of its nuclear power reactors have been suspended and thermal power generation requires an additional 3 trillion yen to 4 trillion yen a year for fuel costs. An increase in electricity costs must be avoided by all means.
今は、原子力発電所が停止し、火力発電の燃料費が年３兆〜４兆円も余計にかかる非常時である。電力コストの上昇は、極力避けなければならない。
If the feed-in tariff system causes electricity rates to rise, the government will have to flexibly reduce the recommended rates.
再生可能エネルギー買い取りの影響で電力料金の上昇幅が拡大した場合、政府は買い取り価格を機動的に下げる必要があろう。
===
Denuclearization not easy
In fact, Germany, which is more advanced in its feed-in tariff system than Japan, last year saw the added portion of electricity rates for an ordinary household exceed 1,200 yen per month. Facing public protest, the German government this spring lowered the recommended rates by 20 percent to 30 percent. The Spanish government in January suspended applying its feed-in tariff system to new renewable energy generation projects.
実際、買い取り制度で先行するドイツでは昨年、一般家庭の料金上乗せ分が月１２００円に膨らんだ。国民の反発を受け、今年春に買い取り価格を２〜３割下げた。スペインでは今年１月、新規買い取りの凍結に追い込まれた。
The experience of other countries shows that it is difficult to maintain electricity generation from renewable sources as long as generation costs remain expensive, even if a government tries to support it with policy measures.
海外の事例は、再生可能エネルギーを政策支援で普及させても、発電コストが高いままでは維持が難しいことを示している。
Many expectations are voiced for industrial promotion and job growth related to new energy businesses such as the manufacture of solar panels, but the reality is grim. In Germany, a major solar panel maker and other firms went under one after another in the face of pressure from Chinese products with smaller price tags.
太陽光パネルなど新エネルギー関連の産業振興や雇用増を期待する声も多いが、現実は厳しい。ドイツでは、割安な中国製に押されて、大手パネルメーカーなどの破綻が相次いだ。
Solar and wind power generation have many difficulties regarding the procurement of land for sites and the durability of generation facilities. The road to independence from nuclear power generation is not an easy one.
太陽光、風力発電は、用地確保や発電設備の耐久性などに課題が多い。「脱原発依存」への道は決して平坦(へいたん)ではない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 1, 2012)
（2012年5月1日01時10分 読売新聞）
2012年05月04日
追加金融緩和 政府と日銀は脱デフレを急げ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (May. 1, 2012)
Govt, BOJ must expedite efforts to arrest deflation
追加金融緩和 政府と日銀は脱デフレを急げ（4月30日付・読売社説）
If the Bank of Japan simply continues taking monetary-easing measures in dribs and drabs, the country will remain without a clear prospect for defeating deflation.
日銀が小出しの金融緩和を繰り返しているだけでは、デフレ脱却への展望は開けまい。
The government and the central bank must step up their collaboration and work hard to restore the growth of the domestic economy.
政府と日銀は連携を強め、日本経済の成長回復に全力を挙げるべきだ。
The central bank decided to take additional monetary-easing policies, under which the total amount of its asset-purchase funds, used to purchase government bonds and other financial assets, will be raised to 70 trillion yen. This is a 5 trillion yen increase.
日銀が、国債などを買い入れる基金を５兆円増やし、７０兆円とする追加金融緩和策を決めた。
The measure is aimed at increasing the amount of funds circulating in the market to boost the country's economic recovery.
市場に出回る資金を増やし、景気回復を後押しする狙いだ。
This is the first time since Feb. 14 that the central bank has taken additional monetary-easing measures. On the previous occasion, the bank introduced as a guideline for price stabilization a 1 percent year-on-year rise in consumer prices, making it clear it was determined to continue following easy-money policies.
日銀の追加緩和策は２月１４日以来となる。前回は「物価安定の目途(めど)」を導入し、消費者物価の「１％上昇」を目指して金融緩和を続ける方針を打ち出した。
The market responded favorably to the move: The average stock price of the Tokyo Stock Exchange recovered to above 10,000 for some time. The bank's decision also helped halt the yen's further appreciation against the dollar.
これが好感され、東京市場の平均株価は１万円台を一時回復し、円高にも歯止めがかかった。
===
Bank was right to act
However, given that the measure's effects are gradually weakening, it was appropriate for the central bank to "shoot a second arrow."
しかし、効果は薄れており、「二の矢」を放ったのは適切だ。
This time, the Bank of Japan presented projections for the rate of year-on-year increase in consumer prices: 0.3 percent for fiscal 2012 and 0.7 percent for fiscal 2013.
日銀は今回、今後の消費者物価上昇率の見通しを示し、２０１２年度がプラス０・３％、１３年度はプラス０・７％とした。
Although these figures were above its projections in January, they were still below 1 percent, which the central bank has set as a gauge to arrest deflation. The central bank thus acknowledged it would be difficult to defeat deflation anytime soon--a fact that is highly significant.
今年１月時点の見通しを上回ったとはいえ、日銀がデフレ脱却の目安とする１％に届かなかった。早期のデフレ脱却は難しいと、日銀が自ら認めた意味は重い。
If things stand as they are now, people's expectations for the country's economic recovery may fade away, shrinking the country's economic activities.
このままでは景気回復への期待がしぼんでしまい、経済活動は萎縮しかねない。
The Bank of Japan also projected that the rise in consumer prices is highly likely to reach 1 percent in the not-too-distant future, as early as in fiscal 2014. The central bank should take a step forward and express its strong determination to defeat deflation.
日銀は１４年度以降「１％に遠からず達する可能性が高い」との見通しも示した。さらに踏み込み、デフレ克服を実現する強い決意を明らかにするべきだ。
Of course, the government bears a heavy responsibility in this respect. Past administrations failed to take effective measures to address various key issues, including the declining population and fiscal deficits, which resulted in declines in the country's growth power. It can be said that this is the major cause for the country's prolonged deflation.
もちろん政府にも、重い責任がある。歴代政権は人口減少や財政赤字などの課題に有効な手を打たず、成長力低下を招いた。デフレ長期化の主因と言える。
The Cabinet of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda set up a panel of Cabinet ministers to arrest deflation and started considering concrete measures for structural reforms of the country's economy. The move is highly commendable.
野田内閣が脱デフレに向けた関係閣僚会議を設け、経済構造改革について具体策の検討を開始したことは評価できる。
===
Discussions must be broad
Bank of Japan Gov. Masaaki Shirakawa also is taking part in the panel as an observer. Panel members should discuss not only monetary policies but also fiscal policies and growth strategies.
日銀の白川方明総裁もオブザーバーで参加している。金融政策だけでなく、財政政策と成長戦略をあわせて議論する必要がある。
Calls have been growing for the Bank of Japan to adopt bold monetary-easing policies, mainly among Diet members with reservations about the consumption tax hike. These lawmakers argue that deflation must be stopped before the consumption tax is raised. But using such an argument as an expedient to avoid raising the consumption tax would be, we regret to say, a dereliction of their duty as politicians.
最近、消費税増税に慎重な議員を中心に、日銀に大胆な金融緩和を求める声が強まってきた。「増税よりデフレ退治が先」という主張も、消費税から逃げる方便だとすれば政治の責任放棄だ。
Some members of the Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Democratic Party are calling for revising the Bank of Japan Law. They argue the government should have the power to dismiss the central bank governor in order to pressure the bank to take anti-deflationary or other measures.
民主党や自民党の一部には、日銀法改正を求める意見もある。政府が総裁解任権を持ち、デフレ対策を迫るなどの内容だ。
There have not yet been any substantial moves toward revising the central bank law. But excessive political interference in the operations of the central bank would bring its independence into question, reducing confidence in the bank.
法改正の動きが具体化しつつあるわけではないが、政治が過剰介入すれば、中央銀行の独立性は揺らぎ、信認低下を招く恐れがある。
Any moves that would throw the country's market and economy into confusion must be avoided.
市場や経済を混乱させる事態は避けなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 30, 2012)
（2012年4月30日01時18分 読売新聞）
Govt, BOJ must expedite efforts to arrest deflation
追加金融緩和 政府と日銀は脱デフレを急げ（4月30日付・読売社説）
If the Bank of Japan simply continues taking monetary-easing measures in dribs and drabs, the country will remain without a clear prospect for defeating deflation.
日銀が小出しの金融緩和を繰り返しているだけでは、デフレ脱却への展望は開けまい。
The government and the central bank must step up their collaboration and work hard to restore the growth of the domestic economy.
政府と日銀は連携を強め、日本経済の成長回復に全力を挙げるべきだ。
The central bank decided to take additional monetary-easing policies, under which the total amount of its asset-purchase funds, used to purchase government bonds and other financial assets, will be raised to 70 trillion yen. This is a 5 trillion yen increase.
日銀が、国債などを買い入れる基金を５兆円増やし、７０兆円とする追加金融緩和策を決めた。
The measure is aimed at increasing the amount of funds circulating in the market to boost the country's economic recovery.
市場に出回る資金を増やし、景気回復を後押しする狙いだ。
This is the first time since Feb. 14 that the central bank has taken additional monetary-easing measures. On the previous occasion, the bank introduced as a guideline for price stabilization a 1 percent year-on-year rise in consumer prices, making it clear it was determined to continue following easy-money policies.
日銀の追加緩和策は２月１４日以来となる。前回は「物価安定の目途(めど)」を導入し、消費者物価の「１％上昇」を目指して金融緩和を続ける方針を打ち出した。
The market responded favorably to the move: The average stock price of the Tokyo Stock Exchange recovered to above 10,000 for some time. The bank's decision also helped halt the yen's further appreciation against the dollar.
これが好感され、東京市場の平均株価は１万円台を一時回復し、円高にも歯止めがかかった。
===
Bank was right to act
However, given that the measure's effects are gradually weakening, it was appropriate for the central bank to "shoot a second arrow."
しかし、効果は薄れており、「二の矢」を放ったのは適切だ。
This time, the Bank of Japan presented projections for the rate of year-on-year increase in consumer prices: 0.3 percent for fiscal 2012 and 0.7 percent for fiscal 2013.
日銀は今回、今後の消費者物価上昇率の見通しを示し、２０１２年度がプラス０・３％、１３年度はプラス０・７％とした。
Although these figures were above its projections in January, they were still below 1 percent, which the central bank has set as a gauge to arrest deflation. The central bank thus acknowledged it would be difficult to defeat deflation anytime soon--a fact that is highly significant.
今年１月時点の見通しを上回ったとはいえ、日銀がデフレ脱却の目安とする１％に届かなかった。早期のデフレ脱却は難しいと、日銀が自ら認めた意味は重い。
If things stand as they are now, people's expectations for the country's economic recovery may fade away, shrinking the country's economic activities.
このままでは景気回復への期待がしぼんでしまい、経済活動は萎縮しかねない。
The Bank of Japan also projected that the rise in consumer prices is highly likely to reach 1 percent in the not-too-distant future, as early as in fiscal 2014. The central bank should take a step forward and express its strong determination to defeat deflation.
日銀は１４年度以降「１％に遠からず達する可能性が高い」との見通しも示した。さらに踏み込み、デフレ克服を実現する強い決意を明らかにするべきだ。
Of course, the government bears a heavy responsibility in this respect. Past administrations failed to take effective measures to address various key issues, including the declining population and fiscal deficits, which resulted in declines in the country's growth power. It can be said that this is the major cause for the country's prolonged deflation.
もちろん政府にも、重い責任がある。歴代政権は人口減少や財政赤字などの課題に有効な手を打たず、成長力低下を招いた。デフレ長期化の主因と言える。
The Cabinet of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda set up a panel of Cabinet ministers to arrest deflation and started considering concrete measures for structural reforms of the country's economy. The move is highly commendable.
野田内閣が脱デフレに向けた関係閣僚会議を設け、経済構造改革について具体策の検討を開始したことは評価できる。
===
Discussions must be broad
Bank of Japan Gov. Masaaki Shirakawa also is taking part in the panel as an observer. Panel members should discuss not only monetary policies but also fiscal policies and growth strategies.
日銀の白川方明総裁もオブザーバーで参加している。金融政策だけでなく、財政政策と成長戦略をあわせて議論する必要がある。
Calls have been growing for the Bank of Japan to adopt bold monetary-easing policies, mainly among Diet members with reservations about the consumption tax hike. These lawmakers argue that deflation must be stopped before the consumption tax is raised. But using such an argument as an expedient to avoid raising the consumption tax would be, we regret to say, a dereliction of their duty as politicians.
最近、消費税増税に慎重な議員を中心に、日銀に大胆な金融緩和を求める声が強まってきた。「増税よりデフレ退治が先」という主張も、消費税から逃げる方便だとすれば政治の責任放棄だ。
Some members of the Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Democratic Party are calling for revising the Bank of Japan Law. They argue the government should have the power to dismiss the central bank governor in order to pressure the bank to take anti-deflationary or other measures.
民主党や自民党の一部には、日銀法改正を求める意見もある。政府が総裁解任権を持ち、デフレ対策を迫るなどの内容だ。
There have not yet been any substantial moves toward revising the central bank law. But excessive political interference in the operations of the central bank would bring its independence into question, reducing confidence in the bank.
法改正の動きが具体化しつつあるわけではないが、政治が過剰介入すれば、中央銀行の独立性は揺らぎ、信認低下を招く恐れがある。
Any moves that would throw the country's market and economy into confusion must be avoided.
市場や経済を混乱させる事態は避けなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 30, 2012)
（2012年4月30日01時18分 読売新聞）
2012年05月03日
高速バス事故 再発防止に安全運行の徹底を
The Yomiuri Shimbun (May. 2, 2012)
Safety must be paramount when operating buses
高速バス事故 再発防止に安全運行の徹底を（5月1日付・読売社説）
Sunday's expressway bus accident seems to suggest that safety concerns have been put on the back burner due to intense price-cutting competition.
格安競争が激化し、安全が置き去りにされていたのではないか。
Just before dawn Sunday, in the first weekend of the Golden Week holidays, a bus smashed into a noise-blocking wall on the left side of the Kanetsu Expressway in Gunma Prefecture, killing seven passengers and injuring 39 others, some of them seriously.
大型連休まっただ中の４月２９日未明、群馬県の関越自動車道で、ツアーバスが道路左側の防音壁に衝突し、乗客７人が死亡、３９人が重軽傷を負う悲惨な事故が起きた。
The wall pierced the front of the bus and ripped through the vehicle, illustrating the sheer impact of the crash.
防音壁が車体を裂くように突き刺さり、バスはほとんど原形をとどめていない。事故の衝撃の大きさを物語っている。
The bus driver told police that he fell asleep at the wheel. Police on Monday obtained a warrant to arrest him on suspicion of negligent driving resulting in death and injury, and searched the office of the bus operator in Chiba Prefecture where the driver worked. An exhaustive investigation must be conducted to pinpoint the cause of the accident.
バスの運転手は居眠りをしていたと話している。警察は自動車運転過失致死傷容疑で逮捕状を取るとともに、運転手が勤務している千葉県のバス会社を捜索した。事故原因を徹底的に究明することが必要である。
The bus left Kanazawa on Saturday night and was scheduled to arrive at Tokyo Disneyland on Sunday morning. The trip was organized by a travel company in Osaka Prefecture that sought participants online and entrusted their transportation to the bus company.
今回のツアーは２８日夜に金沢市を出発し、２９日朝に東京ディズニーランドに着く行程だった。大阪府の旅行会社がツアーを企画し、ネットを通じて乗客を募集、バス会社に運行を委託した。
Such bus trips have become increasingly popular, especially among young people, because they are cheaper than traveling by plane or train and can be easily joined by applying over the Internet. The number of people going on these trips has been rising.
こうしたバスツアーは、航空機や鉄道に比べて格安な料金と、ネットで簡単に申し込める手軽さが若者を中心に人気を呼び、急速に利用者を伸ばしている。
===
Deregulation spurs business
Deregulation of the bus charter business since 2000 has made it easier for new entrants to join the industry. The number of bus operators had jumped to about 4,500 in fiscal 2010.
２０００年以降の規制緩和で、新規参入が容易になったこともあり、バス事業者数は急増し、１０年度で約４５００に上る。
As competition has intensified, some observers have pointed out safety problems emerging in the industry, such as the excessive workload placed on bus drivers. Sunday's accident, it may be said, turned these concerns into a reality.
一方で、競争激化による運転手の過重労働など、安全面の課題が問題視されていた。懸念が現実になったと言える。
The bus in Sunday's accident had only one driver, and no replacement driver had been assigned. Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry regulations set upper limits for the driving hours and distance allowed for a driver per day.
今回のケースでは、運転手は１人で、交代要員はいなかった。国土交通省の規則などは、運転手の１日当たりの運転時間と走行距離の上限を定めている。
The bus operator in question said, "There was no problem with the operation of the bus." But was it appropriate that only one driver was assigned for an overnight trip over such a long distance?
バス会社は「運行上の問題はなかった」と説明しているが、徹夜で長距離をたった１人で運転することが適切だったのだろうか。
It is essential to bring to light any problems with the company's operational management.
運行管理の問題点を洗い出すことが重要だ。
===
Do more to prevent repeat
Some people have pointed out that violations by bus operators--such as excessive working hours for drivers--have become par for the course. The transport ministry has left itself open to criticism for belatedly taking measures to prevent this.
運転手の勤務時間超過など、バス事業者の違反行為は常態化しているとの指摘もある。国交省の対策は後手に回っていたと批判されても仕方あるまい。
To prevent a repeat of Sunday's accident, the ministry must tighten its supervision of bus companies to ensure their vehicles are driven as safely as possible.
事故の再発を防止するため、国交省は事業者に対する監査体制を強化し、安全運行の徹底を図らねばならない。
It is also problematic that under current law, travel agents are not responsible for ensuring the safety of passengers on trips they organize. Many bus operators have complained that "travel companies have presented tour schedules that turn a blind eye to the costs needed to ensure safety."
現行法では、ツアーを企画した旅行会社が乗客に対する安全責任を負わないことも問題だ。「旅行会社に安全コストを無視した計画を提示された」といったバス業界側からの苦情も少なくない。
To make sure buses are driven safely, legislative steps must be taken to swiftly establish a system that makes it mandatory for travel agents to take legal responsibility for traffic accidents involving these buses.
ツアーバスの安全運行のため、旅行会社も法的責任を負う仕組みを早急に整えるべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 1, 2012)
（2012年5月1日01時10分 読売新聞）
Safety must be paramount when operating buses
高速バス事故 再発防止に安全運行の徹底を（5月1日付・読売社説）
Sunday's expressway bus accident seems to suggest that safety concerns have been put on the back burner due to intense price-cutting competition.
格安競争が激化し、安全が置き去りにされていたのではないか。
Just before dawn Sunday, in the first weekend of the Golden Week holidays, a bus smashed into a noise-blocking wall on the left side of the Kanetsu Expressway in Gunma Prefecture, killing seven passengers and injuring 39 others, some of them seriously.
大型連休まっただ中の４月２９日未明、群馬県の関越自動車道で、ツアーバスが道路左側の防音壁に衝突し、乗客７人が死亡、３９人が重軽傷を負う悲惨な事故が起きた。
The wall pierced the front of the bus and ripped through the vehicle, illustrating the sheer impact of the crash.
防音壁が車体を裂くように突き刺さり、バスはほとんど原形をとどめていない。事故の衝撃の大きさを物語っている。
The bus driver told police that he fell asleep at the wheel. Police on Monday obtained a warrant to arrest him on suspicion of negligent driving resulting in death and injury, and searched the office of the bus operator in Chiba Prefecture where the driver worked. An exhaustive investigation must be conducted to pinpoint the cause of the accident.
バスの運転手は居眠りをしていたと話している。警察は自動車運転過失致死傷容疑で逮捕状を取るとともに、運転手が勤務している千葉県のバス会社を捜索した。事故原因を徹底的に究明することが必要である。
The bus left Kanazawa on Saturday night and was scheduled to arrive at Tokyo Disneyland on Sunday morning. The trip was organized by a travel company in Osaka Prefecture that sought participants online and entrusted their transportation to the bus company.
今回のツアーは２８日夜に金沢市を出発し、２９日朝に東京ディズニーランドに着く行程だった。大阪府の旅行会社がツアーを企画し、ネットを通じて乗客を募集、バス会社に運行を委託した。
Such bus trips have become increasingly popular, especially among young people, because they are cheaper than traveling by plane or train and can be easily joined by applying over the Internet. The number of people going on these trips has been rising.
こうしたバスツアーは、航空機や鉄道に比べて格安な料金と、ネットで簡単に申し込める手軽さが若者を中心に人気を呼び、急速に利用者を伸ばしている。
===
Deregulation spurs business
Deregulation of the bus charter business since 2000 has made it easier for new entrants to join the industry. The number of bus operators had jumped to about 4,500 in fiscal 2010.
２０００年以降の規制緩和で、新規参入が容易になったこともあり、バス事業者数は急増し、１０年度で約４５００に上る。
As competition has intensified, some observers have pointed out safety problems emerging in the industry, such as the excessive workload placed on bus drivers. Sunday's accident, it may be said, turned these concerns into a reality.
一方で、競争激化による運転手の過重労働など、安全面の課題が問題視されていた。懸念が現実になったと言える。
The bus in Sunday's accident had only one driver, and no replacement driver had been assigned. Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry regulations set upper limits for the driving hours and distance allowed for a driver per day.
今回のケースでは、運転手は１人で、交代要員はいなかった。国土交通省の規則などは、運転手の１日当たりの運転時間と走行距離の上限を定めている。
The bus operator in question said, "There was no problem with the operation of the bus." But was it appropriate that only one driver was assigned for an overnight trip over such a long distance?
バス会社は「運行上の問題はなかった」と説明しているが、徹夜で長距離をたった１人で運転することが適切だったのだろうか。
It is essential to bring to light any problems with the company's operational management.
運行管理の問題点を洗い出すことが重要だ。
===
Do more to prevent repeat
Some people have pointed out that violations by bus operators--such as excessive working hours for drivers--have become par for the course. The transport ministry has left itself open to criticism for belatedly taking measures to prevent this.
運転手の勤務時間超過など、バス事業者の違反行為は常態化しているとの指摘もある。国交省の対策は後手に回っていたと批判されても仕方あるまい。
To prevent a repeat of Sunday's accident, the ministry must tighten its supervision of bus companies to ensure their vehicles are driven as safely as possible.
事故の再発を防止するため、国交省は事業者に対する監査体制を強化し、安全運行の徹底を図らねばならない。
It is also problematic that under current law, travel agents are not responsible for ensuring the safety of passengers on trips they organize. Many bus operators have complained that "travel companies have presented tour schedules that turn a blind eye to the costs needed to ensure safety."
現行法では、ツアーを企画した旅行会社が乗客に対する安全責任を負わないことも問題だ。「旅行会社に安全コストを無視した計画を提示された」といったバス業界側からの苦情も少なくない。
To make sure buses are driven safely, legislative steps must be taken to swiftly establish a system that makes it mandatory for travel agents to take legal responsibility for traffic accidents involving these buses.
ツアーバスの安全運行のため、旅行会社も法的責任を負う仕組みを早急に整えるべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 1, 2012)
（2012年5月1日01時10分 読売新聞）
2012年05月02日
医師のための転職支援、アルバイト求人サイト ニューハンプシャー医局のご紹介
医師 転職 情報、ニューハンプシャー医局サイトを訪問してその実体を給与の面から検証してみました。
私は建設ゼネコンですが現役時代に海外勤務をさせられていたときには現地手当が付きましたので年収１２００万円を超えていましたが、さすがに医師の給与は別格ですね。医師は命を預かる崇高なお仕事ですから当然と言えば当然ですが、医師の給与の高さには驚かされました。月収で１００万円、あるいは年収で１２００万円は医師の給与としては最低線のクラスなのですね。再認識いたしました。
医師の方で転職をお考えの人は医師 求人 情報サイト、ニューハンプシャー医局の訪問をお勧めいたします。
常勤の他にも、アルバイト(非常勤)医師 求人 もされているようです。
日本は世界の中でもまれに見る老人大国で介護される人はうなぎ登りです。
正義感に溢れた若い医師たちがたくさん登場してくれることを切に願います。
レビューブログからの紹介です。
東電事業計画 再稼働と値上げをどうする
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 29, 2012)
Govt takes on heavy burden in nationalizing TEPCO
東電事業計画 再稼働と値上げをどうする（4月28日付・読売社説）
The nationalization of Tokyo Electric Power Co. means that the government will be required to shoulder greater responsibilities for important energy polices such as resuming operations of suspended nuclear reactors.
東京電力の国有化で、政府は原子力発電所の再稼働などに一段と重い責任を負うことになる。
On Friday, TEPCO and the government's Nuclear Damage Liability Facilitation Fund submitted the power company's comprehensive business rehabilitation plan to Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yukio Edano. Edano is expected to approve the plan, which was prepared jointly by the two entities, in early May or later.
東電と政府の原子力損害賠償支援機構が２７日、東電の再建を目指す「総合特別事業計画」をまとめ、枝野経済産業相に提出した。５月上旬にも経産相が認定する見通しという。
The plan was a prerequisite for TEPCO to receive 1 trillion yen in public funds. Now the power company needs to speed up reform of its management.
東電が支援機構を通じて１兆円の公的資金注入を受けるための計画だ。東電は経営改革を加速する必要がある。
The main point of the business rehabilitation plan is the government's acquisition of a majority equity stake in the power company on a voting-rights basis, which effectively means the company will be nationalized. TEPCO's management team will also be changed drastically, with Kazuhiko Shimokobe, head of the Nuclear Damage Liability Facilitation Fund's steering committee, assuming TEPCO's chairmanship.
計画のポイントは、東電株の議決権の過半数を政府が握り、実質国有化することだ。経営陣も大幅に刷新し、新会長に支援機構の下河辺和彦・運営委員長が就く。
===
Govt required to do more
As TEPCO's new top shareholder, the government will be required to take a more active role in resolving the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant and compensating victims of the crisis.
政府は東電の筆頭株主として、福島第一原発の事故収束や損害賠償などに、主体的に取り組まなければならない。
We give credit to TEPCO's business rehabilitation plan for increasing the amount of cost reductions planned over the next 10 years from 2.6 trillion yen to more than 3 trillion yen. We ask the power company to continue its consistent efforts to trim costs.
計画が、１０年間の経費削減額を従来の２・６兆円から３兆円超に上積みした点は評価できる。さらに不断の努力を続けてほしい。
The plan also sets a goal of moving into the black in fiscal 2013 through measures such as raising household electricity rates and resuming operations of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture.
家庭向けの電気料金値上げや、新潟県の柏崎刈羽原発の再稼働で収益を改善し、２０１３年度に黒字化する目標も掲げている。
However, this goal is unlikely to be easily achieved.
だが、こちらは実現へのハードルが高い。
TEPCO's sloppy handling of recent price hikes for large-lot customers prompted strong public criticism. Under such circumstances, it will be difficult for the power company to obtain public consent for raising household electricity rates. The power company also needs to dispel public distrust regarding the safety of nuclear power plants to resume operations of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant.
大口料金値上げを巡る東電の不手際が、強い批判を浴びており、値上げに理解を得るのは容易でない。原発再稼働に向け、安全性への不信感払拭も求められる。
Of course, it is TEPCO's duty to earnestly ask the public to support the electricity price hike and the resumption of the nuclear power plant's operations, but the government must not leave those tasks up to the power company.
The government should take the lead in persuading the public, because owning the power company means the government will be directly responsible for approving TEPCO's price hike plan and deciding whether the reactivation of nuclear power plants is appropriate.
東電が値上げや再稼働への理解を真摯(しんし)に求めるのは当然だが、政府も東電任せにせず、説得の先頭に立たねばならない。値上げの認可も、再稼働の妥当性の判断も、決めるのは東電を所有する政府自身になるからだ。
It is also worthy to note that an attempt to introduce the so-called "in-house company system" was incorporated in TEPCO's business rehabilitation plan. It is a good idea to increase employees' awareness of costs by dividing the power company into smaller units, such as a thermal power generation section and an electric transmission and distribution section, and give each of them a certain level of autonomy.
事業計画に社内カンパニー制導入を盛り込んだ点も注目される。「火力発電」「送配電」などに分けて独立性をもたせ、コスト意識を高める狙いはいい。
However, it will be a problem if the power company uses management reform as a springboard to reforming the electricity system without the public noticing, such as separating power generation and transmission. Electricity system reform should be discussed carefully as a medium- and long-term issue.
ただし、東電改革を突破口に、なし崩しで発送電分離などを進めるのは問題だろう。電力制度改革は、中長期的な課題として慎重に議論すべきだ。
===
TEPCO's bleak outlook
There is concern that TEPCO's costs related to the nuclear crisis may increase by trillions of yen, due to factors such as the decommissioning of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant and the need to decontaminate areas affected by radiation. Under the current system of support for the power company, such costs are shouldered by the government only temporarily. The power company will be required to pay back the loans to the government over a long time.
福島第一原発の廃炉や除染などで、今後さらに数兆円単位の費用が発生する懸念もある。現行の支援制度は、政府が支払いを立て替えるだけで、東電は長年にわたり債務返済を続けることになる。
If TEPCO is unable to show positive prospects for the future, it could prompt growing numbers of talented employees to leave, and the company itself could be restrained in its investments in plant and equipment. Under such circumstances, the company would have difficulty carrying out its vital missions of ending the nuclear crisis, paying compensation to victims and providing a stable energy supply.
東電の将来展望が見えないと、人材の流出や設備投資の抑制で、肝心の事故収束、損害賠償、電力安定供給に支障が出かねない。
If the costs of the nuclear crisis exceed the level that a private company can handle by itself, the government should pay a reasonable share.
民間企業の担える範囲を超えてコストが膨らむようなら、政府も応分の負担をするべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 28, 2012)
（2012年4月28日01時02分 読売新聞）
Govt takes on heavy burden in nationalizing TEPCO
東電事業計画 再稼働と値上げをどうする（4月28日付・読売社説）
The nationalization of Tokyo Electric Power Co. means that the government will be required to shoulder greater responsibilities for important energy polices such as resuming operations of suspended nuclear reactors.
東京電力の国有化で、政府は原子力発電所の再稼働などに一段と重い責任を負うことになる。
On Friday, TEPCO and the government's Nuclear Damage Liability Facilitation Fund submitted the power company's comprehensive business rehabilitation plan to Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yukio Edano. Edano is expected to approve the plan, which was prepared jointly by the two entities, in early May or later.
東電と政府の原子力損害賠償支援機構が２７日、東電の再建を目指す「総合特別事業計画」をまとめ、枝野経済産業相に提出した。５月上旬にも経産相が認定する見通しという。
The plan was a prerequisite for TEPCO to receive 1 trillion yen in public funds. Now the power company needs to speed up reform of its management.
東電が支援機構を通じて１兆円の公的資金注入を受けるための計画だ。東電は経営改革を加速する必要がある。
The main point of the business rehabilitation plan is the government's acquisition of a majority equity stake in the power company on a voting-rights basis, which effectively means the company will be nationalized. TEPCO's management team will also be changed drastically, with Kazuhiko Shimokobe, head of the Nuclear Damage Liability Facilitation Fund's steering committee, assuming TEPCO's chairmanship.
計画のポイントは、東電株の議決権の過半数を政府が握り、実質国有化することだ。経営陣も大幅に刷新し、新会長に支援機構の下河辺和彦・運営委員長が就く。
===
Govt required to do more
As TEPCO's new top shareholder, the government will be required to take a more active role in resolving the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant and compensating victims of the crisis.
政府は東電の筆頭株主として、福島第一原発の事故収束や損害賠償などに、主体的に取り組まなければならない。
We give credit to TEPCO's business rehabilitation plan for increasing the amount of cost reductions planned over the next 10 years from 2.6 trillion yen to more than 3 trillion yen. We ask the power company to continue its consistent efforts to trim costs.
計画が、１０年間の経費削減額を従来の２・６兆円から３兆円超に上積みした点は評価できる。さらに不断の努力を続けてほしい。
The plan also sets a goal of moving into the black in fiscal 2013 through measures such as raising household electricity rates and resuming operations of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture.
家庭向けの電気料金値上げや、新潟県の柏崎刈羽原発の再稼働で収益を改善し、２０１３年度に黒字化する目標も掲げている。
However, this goal is unlikely to be easily achieved.
だが、こちらは実現へのハードルが高い。
TEPCO's sloppy handling of recent price hikes for large-lot customers prompted strong public criticism. Under such circumstances, it will be difficult for the power company to obtain public consent for raising household electricity rates. The power company also needs to dispel public distrust regarding the safety of nuclear power plants to resume operations of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant.
大口料金値上げを巡る東電の不手際が、強い批判を浴びており、値上げに理解を得るのは容易でない。原発再稼働に向け、安全性への不信感払拭も求められる。
Of course, it is TEPCO's duty to earnestly ask the public to support the electricity price hike and the resumption of the nuclear power plant's operations, but the government must not leave those tasks up to the power company.
The government should take the lead in persuading the public, because owning the power company means the government will be directly responsible for approving TEPCO's price hike plan and deciding whether the reactivation of nuclear power plants is appropriate.
東電が値上げや再稼働への理解を真摯(しんし)に求めるのは当然だが、政府も東電任せにせず、説得の先頭に立たねばならない。値上げの認可も、再稼働の妥当性の判断も、決めるのは東電を所有する政府自身になるからだ。
It is also worthy to note that an attempt to introduce the so-called "in-house company system" was incorporated in TEPCO's business rehabilitation plan. It is a good idea to increase employees' awareness of costs by dividing the power company into smaller units, such as a thermal power generation section and an electric transmission and distribution section, and give each of them a certain level of autonomy.
事業計画に社内カンパニー制導入を盛り込んだ点も注目される。「火力発電」「送配電」などに分けて独立性をもたせ、コスト意識を高める狙いはいい。
However, it will be a problem if the power company uses management reform as a springboard to reforming the electricity system without the public noticing, such as separating power generation and transmission. Electricity system reform should be discussed carefully as a medium- and long-term issue.
ただし、東電改革を突破口に、なし崩しで発送電分離などを進めるのは問題だろう。電力制度改革は、中長期的な課題として慎重に議論すべきだ。
===
TEPCO's bleak outlook
There is concern that TEPCO's costs related to the nuclear crisis may increase by trillions of yen, due to factors such as the decommissioning of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant and the need to decontaminate areas affected by radiation. Under the current system of support for the power company, such costs are shouldered by the government only temporarily. The power company will be required to pay back the loans to the government over a long time.
福島第一原発の廃炉や除染などで、今後さらに数兆円単位の費用が発生する懸念もある。現行の支援制度は、政府が支払いを立て替えるだけで、東電は長年にわたり債務返済を続けることになる。
If TEPCO is unable to show positive prospects for the future, it could prompt growing numbers of talented employees to leave, and the company itself could be restrained in its investments in plant and equipment. Under such circumstances, the company would have difficulty carrying out its vital missions of ending the nuclear crisis, paying compensation to victims and providing a stable energy supply.
東電の将来展望が見えないと、人材の流出や設備投資の抑制で、肝心の事故収束、損害賠償、電力安定供給に支障が出かねない。
If the costs of the nuclear crisis exceed the level that a private company can handle by itself, the government should pay a reasonable share.
民間企業の担える範囲を超えてコストが膨らむようなら、政府も応分の負担をするべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 28, 2012)
（2012年4月28日01時02分 読売新聞）
2012年05月01日
消費税法案 軽減税率で低所得者層に配慮を
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 30, 2012)
Help low-income earners with reduced tax rates for necessities
消費税法案 軽減税率で低所得者層に配慮を（4月29日付・読売社説）
◆参考にしたい欧州の先行事例
Comprehensive reform of the social security and tax systems is a top-priority issue that will influence the future course of the nation. Yet both the ruling and opposition parties have been acting too sluggishly over a bill related to the consumption tax hike.
社会保障と税の一体改革は、日本の将来を左右する最重要課題である。消費税率引き上げ関連法案を巡る与野党の動きは緩慢すぎる。
Diet deliberations on the bill have been put off until after the Golden Week holiday period, and the bill will effectively be deliberated at a special committee from mid-May. As things stand now, it is unlikely the bill will be passed into law by June 21, the end of the current Diet session.
関連法案の審議入りは、大型連休明けにずれ込んだ。特別委員会での実質審議は５月中旬からだ。このままでは、６月２１日までの会期内に成立しそうもない。
Amid these developments, there has at last emerged within the major opposition Liberal Democratic Party a movement to discuss a counterproposal to the government's bill. This should be highly praised as a constructive stance.
こうした中、自民党内でようやく、消費増税法案の対案を検討する動きが出てきた。建設的な姿勢として評価できる。
We want the LDP to work out the counterproposal, and debate it and the government's bill with the government.
自民党は対案をまとめ、政府に論戦を挑んでもらいたい。
===
LDP should make counterproposal
◆自民党は対案を示せ
Under the counterproposal that has emerged within the LDP, the consumption tax rate would be raised in one step from the current 5 percent to 10 percent in April 2015.
自民党内で浮上した対案は、２０１５年４月に消費税率を現行の５％から１０％へ一度に引き上げる内容である。
The LDP's idea differs from the government's proposal in how the tax hike is to be implemented, with the latter planning to raise the rate to 8 percent in April 2014 and then to 10 percent in October 2015.
１４年４月に８％、１５年１０月に１０％へ２段階で上げる政府案とは、引き上げ方式が異なる。
The LDP, which held power for many years, is responsible for the critical fiscal situation. The party appears to be tackling the task of putting the nation's fiscal house in order seriously, though belatedly.
長年政権を担ってきた自民党は危機的な財政状況に責任がある。遅ればせながら、財政再建へ本腰を入れようというのだろう。
The LDP also advocated the idea of raising the consumption tax to 10 percent as a campaign pledge during the House of Councillors election in 2010.
自民党は１０年の参院選でも「消費税１０％」を公約していた。
As the LDP's idea is in accord with the government's plan in terms of the eventual tax rate, there should be plenty of room for it to form a consensus with the government and the Democratic Party of Japan.
引き上げ後の税率では政府案と一致しており、政府・民主党と合意形成を図る余地は十分あるはずだ。
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has repeatedly emphasized his determination to stake his political life on passage of the bill in the Diet.
野田首相は、消費増税法案の成立に、「政治生命を懸ける」との覚悟を繰り返し強調している。
Noda must exercise his leadership further by cooperating with DPJ leadership, including the party's Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi, to bring about talks on the issue between the ruling and opposition parties.
輿石幹事長ら民主党執行部と連携し、与野党協議の実現に一層の指導力を発揮すべきだ。
One focal issue in Diet deliberations will be how to reduce the financial burden on low-income earners if the tax rate is raised.
消費増税法案を巡る国会審議で一つの焦点となるのは、増税にあたって、収入の少ない人の負担をいかに軽減するかである。
===
Sizable handouts problematic
◆ばらまき給付は問題だ
The bill would raise the rate in two phases, and also contains additional measures to aid low-income earners.
法案は二段構えの措置を盛り込んでいる。
When the tax rate is raised to 8 percent, a simple measure to grant cash benefits will be implemented. 税率を８％にする際、低所得者に現金を渡す「簡素な給付措置」を実施する。
Additionally, when the rate is raised to 10 percent, the government will introduce a Japanese version of the earned income tax credit, whereby the amount of tax people with low incomes owe will be reduced in accordance with their income, or they will receive a tax refund in cash.
その上で、税率を１０％にする時、所得に応じて減税か、現金支給を行う「給付付き税額控除」を導入するという内容だ。
It is said that the lower one's income, the heavier the burden of the consumption tax becomes.
消費税は、低所得者ほど負担感が大きいとされる。
Even if some measures are deemed necessary to lessen this burden, it is questionable that calls are growing within the DPJ to expand the scale of such steps, under the pretext of the simple benefit-granting step.
それを和らげる措置は必要だとしても、民主党内で、簡素な給付措置にかこつけて金額の大幅な上積みを求める声が強まっているのは、問題ではないか。
Worthy of note in this regard is the fact that the social security portion of the government's envisaged reforms of the social security and tax systems does include support measures worth 1.4 trillion yen for low-income earners.
Among them are reduction of nursing care insurance premiums and additional pension benefit payments for people in lower income brackets.
そもそも今回の一体改革では、社会保障分野に、介護保険料の軽減や年金給付の加算など計１兆４０００億円の低所得者対策が含まれている。
Taking this into account, the government must refrain from implementing yet another handout policy by bloating the amounts of the planned cash allowances and the scope of people eligible for them.
現金支給の金額や対象範囲を膨らませ、新たなバラマキにしてはならない。
To put the EITC program into force, it is imperative for the government to establish a system that will give it a clear understanding of the income of each household.
政府案の給付付き税額控除を実施するには、世帯所得を正確につかむことが必要になる。
Many experts are concerned, however, that even if the government employs a national numbering system to track incomes, it would be extremely difficult to have a completely accurate grasp of households' income from such sources as property holdings and financial asset.
しかし、共通番号制度が導入されても、不動産や金融資産の収入など所得全体を完全に把握するのは難しいと懸念される。
In most European countries, where value-added taxes were put in place long before Japan's introduction of the consumption tax, the tax rates are markedly high at around 20 percent. However, they adopted reduced tax rate systems aimed at lowering rates for daily necessities such as food.
日本より前から付加価値税を導入している欧州諸国の大半は、税率こそ２０％前後と高いが、食料品など生活必需品の税率を低く抑える軽減税率を採用している。
Even when a VAT rate is raised, the reduced tax rates for goods indispensable for daily life have mostly remained the same. This mechanism is well suited to the need that may arise in the future to raise taxes in a flexible way.
税率を引き上げる場合も、暮らしに欠かせない商品は軽減税率が維持される。機動的な増税を可能にする利点と言える。
There are also many countries in which high importance has been placed on the culture of printed media and news organizations' contribution to the public good, so tax rates on such publications as newspapers and books have been kept at very low levels.
活字文化と言論報道の公共性を重視して、新聞や書籍などの税率を大幅に低くする国も多い。
The tax rates for such items are zero in Britain, 2.1 percent in France and 4 percent in Italy, which experts say demonstrates that the tradition of "not levying tax on knowledge" has taken root in these nations.
イギリス０％、フランス２・１％、イタリア４％などで、「知識には課税しない」との伝統が定着しているからだという。
===
Hold discussions immediately
Probably because Japan's consumption tax rate is substantially lower than VATs in Europe, there has so far been little discussion about the need for a system of reduced tax rates. The examples in Europe mentioned above are worth noting in this respect.
日本では、消費税率が欧州ほど高くないため、これまで軽減税率の必要性があまり論議されなかった。欧州の先例は参考になる。
In a nationwide survey The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted earlier this month, 74 percent of respondents favored "introducing a reduced tax rate system when the consumption tax rate is raised."
読売新聞が今月実施した世論調査では、消費税率の引き上げ時に軽減税率を「導入すべきだ」とした人が全体の７４％を占めた。
It should be considered reasonable and proper that Noda said last week that his administration is ready to study the advisability of adopting a reduced tax rate system. Appearing on a TV program, the prime minister said, "I think there are a lot of proposals [for adoption of reduced tax rate system] from both the public and opposition parties, and I would like to have serious discussions on the matter."
野田首相が先週、軽減税率を検討するという考えを表明したのは妥当な判断だ。首相はテレビ番組で、「国民や野党からいろいろ提案があると思う。真摯(しんし)に向き合った議論をしたい」と語った。
Help low-income earners with reduced tax rates for necessities
消費税法案 軽減税率で低所得者層に配慮を（4月29日付・読売社説）
◆参考にしたい欧州の先行事例
Comprehensive reform of the social security and tax systems is a top-priority issue that will influence the future course of the nation. Yet both the ruling and opposition parties have been acting too sluggishly over a bill related to the consumption tax hike.
社会保障と税の一体改革は、日本の将来を左右する最重要課題である。消費税率引き上げ関連法案を巡る与野党の動きは緩慢すぎる。
Diet deliberations on the bill have been put off until after the Golden Week holiday period, and the bill will effectively be deliberated at a special committee from mid-May. As things stand now, it is unlikely the bill will be passed into law by June 21, the end of the current Diet session.
関連法案の審議入りは、大型連休明けにずれ込んだ。特別委員会での実質審議は５月中旬からだ。このままでは、６月２１日までの会期内に成立しそうもない。
Amid these developments, there has at last emerged within the major opposition Liberal Democratic Party a movement to discuss a counterproposal to the government's bill. This should be highly praised as a constructive stance.
こうした中、自民党内でようやく、消費増税法案の対案を検討する動きが出てきた。建設的な姿勢として評価できる。
We want the LDP to work out the counterproposal, and debate it and the government's bill with the government.
自民党は対案をまとめ、政府に論戦を挑んでもらいたい。
===
LDP should make counterproposal
◆自民党は対案を示せ
Under the counterproposal that has emerged within the LDP, the consumption tax rate would be raised in one step from the current 5 percent to 10 percent in April 2015.
自民党内で浮上した対案は、２０１５年４月に消費税率を現行の５％から１０％へ一度に引き上げる内容である。
The LDP's idea differs from the government's proposal in how the tax hike is to be implemented, with the latter planning to raise the rate to 8 percent in April 2014 and then to 10 percent in October 2015.
１４年４月に８％、１５年１０月に１０％へ２段階で上げる政府案とは、引き上げ方式が異なる。
The LDP, which held power for many years, is responsible for the critical fiscal situation. The party appears to be tackling the task of putting the nation's fiscal house in order seriously, though belatedly.
長年政権を担ってきた自民党は危機的な財政状況に責任がある。遅ればせながら、財政再建へ本腰を入れようというのだろう。
The LDP also advocated the idea of raising the consumption tax to 10 percent as a campaign pledge during the House of Councillors election in 2010.
自民党は１０年の参院選でも「消費税１０％」を公約していた。
As the LDP's idea is in accord with the government's plan in terms of the eventual tax rate, there should be plenty of room for it to form a consensus with the government and the Democratic Party of Japan.
引き上げ後の税率では政府案と一致しており、政府・民主党と合意形成を図る余地は十分あるはずだ。
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has repeatedly emphasized his determination to stake his political life on passage of the bill in the Diet.
野田首相は、消費増税法案の成立に、「政治生命を懸ける」との覚悟を繰り返し強調している。
Noda must exercise his leadership further by cooperating with DPJ leadership, including the party's Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi, to bring about talks on the issue between the ruling and opposition parties.
輿石幹事長ら民主党執行部と連携し、与野党協議の実現に一層の指導力を発揮すべきだ。
One focal issue in Diet deliberations will be how to reduce the financial burden on low-income earners if the tax rate is raised.
消費増税法案を巡る国会審議で一つの焦点となるのは、増税にあたって、収入の少ない人の負担をいかに軽減するかである。
===
Sizable handouts problematic
◆ばらまき給付は問題だ
The bill would raise the rate in two phases, and also contains additional measures to aid low-income earners.
法案は二段構えの措置を盛り込んでいる。
When the tax rate is raised to 8 percent, a simple measure to grant cash benefits will be implemented. 税率を８％にする際、低所得者に現金を渡す「簡素な給付措置」を実施する。
Additionally, when the rate is raised to 10 percent, the government will introduce a Japanese version of the earned income tax credit, whereby the amount of tax people with low incomes owe will be reduced in accordance with their income, or they will receive a tax refund in cash.
その上で、税率を１０％にする時、所得に応じて減税か、現金支給を行う「給付付き税額控除」を導入するという内容だ。
It is said that the lower one's income, the heavier the burden of the consumption tax becomes.
消費税は、低所得者ほど負担感が大きいとされる。
Even if some measures are deemed necessary to lessen this burden, it is questionable that calls are growing within the DPJ to expand the scale of such steps, under the pretext of the simple benefit-granting step.
それを和らげる措置は必要だとしても、民主党内で、簡素な給付措置にかこつけて金額の大幅な上積みを求める声が強まっているのは、問題ではないか。
Worthy of note in this regard is the fact that the social security portion of the government's envisaged reforms of the social security and tax systems does include support measures worth 1.4 trillion yen for low-income earners.
Among them are reduction of nursing care insurance premiums and additional pension benefit payments for people in lower income brackets.
そもそも今回の一体改革では、社会保障分野に、介護保険料の軽減や年金給付の加算など計１兆４０００億円の低所得者対策が含まれている。
Taking this into account, the government must refrain from implementing yet another handout policy by bloating the amounts of the planned cash allowances and the scope of people eligible for them.
現金支給の金額や対象範囲を膨らませ、新たなバラマキにしてはならない。
To put the EITC program into force, it is imperative for the government to establish a system that will give it a clear understanding of the income of each household.
政府案の給付付き税額控除を実施するには、世帯所得を正確につかむことが必要になる。
Many experts are concerned, however, that even if the government employs a national numbering system to track incomes, it would be extremely difficult to have a completely accurate grasp of households' income from such sources as property holdings and financial asset.
しかし、共通番号制度が導入されても、不動産や金融資産の収入など所得全体を完全に把握するのは難しいと懸念される。
In most European countries, where value-added taxes were put in place long before Japan's introduction of the consumption tax, the tax rates are markedly high at around 20 percent. However, they adopted reduced tax rate systems aimed at lowering rates for daily necessities such as food.
日本より前から付加価値税を導入している欧州諸国の大半は、税率こそ２０％前後と高いが、食料品など生活必需品の税率を低く抑える軽減税率を採用している。
Even when a VAT rate is raised, the reduced tax rates for goods indispensable for daily life have mostly remained the same. This mechanism is well suited to the need that may arise in the future to raise taxes in a flexible way.
税率を引き上げる場合も、暮らしに欠かせない商品は軽減税率が維持される。機動的な増税を可能にする利点と言える。
There are also many countries in which high importance has been placed on the culture of printed media and news organizations' contribution to the public good, so tax rates on such publications as newspapers and books have been kept at very low levels.
活字文化と言論報道の公共性を重視して、新聞や書籍などの税率を大幅に低くする国も多い。
The tax rates for such items are zero in Britain, 2.1 percent in France and 4 percent in Italy, which experts say demonstrates that the tradition of "not levying tax on knowledge" has taken root in these nations.
イギリス０％、フランス２・１％、イタリア４％などで、「知識には課税しない」との伝統が定着しているからだという。
===
Hold discussions immediately
Probably because Japan's consumption tax rate is substantially lower than VATs in Europe, there has so far been little discussion about the need for a system of reduced tax rates. The examples in Europe mentioned above are worth noting in this respect.
日本では、消費税率が欧州ほど高くないため、これまで軽減税率の必要性があまり論議されなかった。欧州の先例は参考になる。
In a nationwide survey The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted earlier this month, 74 percent of respondents favored "introducing a reduced tax rate system when the consumption tax rate is raised."
読売新聞が今月実施した世論調査では、消費税率の引き上げ時に軽減税率を「導入すべきだ」とした人が全体の７４％を占めた。
It should be considered reasonable and proper that Noda said last week that his administration is ready to study the advisability of adopting a reduced tax rate system. Appearing on a TV program, the prime minister said, "I think there are a lot of proposals [for adoption of reduced tax rate system] from both the public and opposition parties, and I would like to have serious discussions on the matter."
野田首相が先週、軽減税率を検討するという考えを表明したのは妥当な判断だ。首相はテレビ番組で、「国民や野党からいろいろ提案があると思う。真摯(しんし)に向き合った議論をしたい」と語った。