来年度概算要求、特別枠４兆円　物価高対策、金額示さず―政府案

　政府は２３日、２０２５年度予算の概算要求基準案を与党に示した。政権肝煎りの政策を推進するための特別枠として「重要政策推進枠」を今回も設け、４兆円規模を用意する。物価高対策や賃上げ促進については、要求段階で金額を示さない「事項要求」を認める方向で、歳出膨張の懸念が出そうだ。月内の閣議了解を目指す。（2024/07/23-17:31）

The Japanese government plans to create a 4-trillion-yen special budget quota for fiscal 2025 to promote key policies, such as promoting wage hikes, addressing the country's declining birthrate and strengthening its defense capabilities, it was learned Tuesday.
   At a joint policy council meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its Komeito ally on the day, the government presented draft guidelines for budget requests for the year from next April. It plans to gain cabinet approval for the guidelines later this month.
   Budget request guidelines set rules for ministries and agencies to submit their budget requests by the end of August each year. Under the special quota, if ministries and agencies reduce discretionary spending by 10 pct from the previous year, they are allowed to seek funds up to three times the reductions.
   For fiscal 2025, the government will allow ministries and agencies to request unspecified amounts of funds for measures to tackle rising prices and promote wage increases.
   Meanwhile, the government is expected to estimate a natural increase in social security costs at around 400 billion yen, reflecting the country's aging population.