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  The Second Science and Technology Basic Plan intends to seek the expansion of funding required for the promotion of measures raised in the Basic Plan based on prioritized and efficient allocation of funding,taking into account future socioeconomic trends,as well as the need for promotion of science and technology.

  In FY2001,in particular,Japan's budget for science and technology totaled3.5444trillion yen.Of this total,the general account budget was1.8529trillion yen,while the special account budget,which covers expenses for national universities,etc.,was1.6915trillion yen.In the general account budget,the amount singled out for promotion of science and technology was1.1832trillion yen (Table3-1-7) .Trends in budget for science and technology by ministry or agency are shown in Table3-1-8 .

  Since administration of science and technology in Japan is not concentrated in a single ministry,but rather is spread among a large number of ministries and agencies,there is a need for coordination of science and technology measures between the relevant ministries and agencies that can eliminate unnecessary duplication and promote stronger co-operation,so as to ensure consistency among ministries as a whole,and to efficiently and effectively promote science and technology.

Figure3-1-5 Administrative structure(as of March2003)

(Figure3-1-5)

Table3-1-6 Recommendations of the council for science and technology(FY2002)

Table3-1-7Trends in science and technology budget

Table3-1-8Science and technology budget breakdown by ministries and agencies

  For this purpose,the Council of Science and Technology Policy acts under the leadership of the Prime Minister as a policy promotion supervisory body to ensure that important measures either stipulated in comprehensive government strategies or laid out in the Science and Technology Basic Plan in accordance with these strategies be properly and firmly realized throughout Japan.In addition,the Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology contacts the relevant ministries and agencies each fiscal year,before requests for the ceiling of science and technology related expenditures are made,to hear the reasoning behind their budget requests.The ministry then coordinates with the ministries and agencies to eliminate any duplication and to promote inter-ministerial cooperation,as part of government-wide efforts.