Jun 23 10:12 AM US/EasternTOKYO, June 23 (AP) - (Kyodo) — The New Komeito party, the junior coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has outlined its manifesto for the looming House of Representatives election, promising to beef up childcare measures and support for low-income households, members of the party said Tuesday.
The election pledges are expected to be approved at a meeting of party executives Thursday but the planned manifesto could provoke criticism for proposing handouts in the form of subsidies and increased allowances.
The manifesto includes pledges to make kindergartens and nurseries free of charge, to extend the age limit for childcare benefits from the current sixth grade in elementary school to the third year in junior high school, to double the amount of the child-rearing benefit and to introduce a tax exemption plan with cash stipends for low- income households, according to the party members.
Free kindergarten and nursery education would be provided to children for three years before they enter elementary school.
But a study panel of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has calculated that around 790 billion yen would be required to implement such a policy.
Since government spending on current childcare benefits is expected to reach 1 trillion yen in fiscal 2009, it would be necessary to secure resources to fund the proposed system.
The New Komeito party also plans to pledge to reduce or exempt tuition for high school students facing financial difficulties in remaining in school as well as to introduce scholarships that would not need to be repaid.
Meanwhile, for diplomatic policies, the party highlighted strengthening the drive for nuclear nonproliferation and Japan's leadership role in developing a new international framework to tackle global warming.
A lower house election must be held by October.
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