The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will propose Diet reform plans that include reviewing the dates of standing committee meetings of the Lower House to the opposition bloc ahead of a regular Diet session to be convened this month. The LDP wants to make it possible to change the dates because general affairs committee meetings, for example, are held on the same day both in the Lower and Upper Houses, forcing relevant cabinet ministers to miss one of the meetings.

The dates for standing committee meetings are supposed to be determined based on discussions between the directors of the ruling and opposition blocs. But the Lower House tends to schedule meetings on Wednesdays and Fridays, while the Upper House does so on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The standing committees on internal affairs and communications and on agriculture, forestry and fisheries are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays at both Houses. LDP’s Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Hiroshi Moriyama says, “The schedule for deliberations is very tight. I think it’s important for committee members to hold discussions and change it.” (Abridged)

Schedule for major standing committee meetings of the Lower and Upper Houses

*L=Lower House, U=Upper House