安倍首相、家計下支えに全力＝関係改善、まずは韓国が－衆院代表質問

　安倍晋三首相は８日の衆院代表質問で、消費税率引き上げに関し、軽減税率や低年金者への給付金支給などの負担軽減策を挙げた上で「こうした施策を円滑に実行して家計消費をしっかりと下支えし、経済の好循環を確保していく」と強調した。国民民主党の泉健太政調会長への答弁。

　首相は補正予算を編成する考えがあるか問われ、「現段階において具体的に想定していない」と答弁。さらなる税率の引き上げについて「今後１０年程度は消費税率を引き上げる必要はないのではないかというのが私の考えだ」と改めて強調した。

　元徴用工問題に端を発した日韓関係の悪化について、首相は「信頼関係を損なう行為を続ける韓国に対し、まずは国際法に基づき国と国との約束を順守することにより、より健全な関係に戻していくきっかけをつくることを求める」と語り、韓国側の改善努力が先決だとの見解を示した。公明党の斉藤鉄夫幹事長への答弁。（2019/10/08-17:50）

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed his resolve on Tuesday to support households after the consumption tax rate was raised from 8 pct to 10 pct at the beginning of this month.
   At a plenary meeting of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, the country's parliament, Abe noted that the tax rate has been kept at 8 pct for certain items and benefits will be provided to low-income pensioners. "By implementing these steps smoothly, we'll firmly support households and ensure a virtuous economic cycle," Abe said, while noting that he has no specific plan to compile a supplementary budget at the moment.
   "I think there will be no need to raise the consumption tax rate further in the next 10 years or so," he also said.
   Abe said, "We want South Korea, which continues to take actions that damage the relationship of trust, to create an opportunity to improve the soured ties first by keeping its promises." Relations between the two East Asian nations have been deteriorating due to wartime labor and other issues.
   Asked about regulations on television commercials in a potential national referendum on constitutional revisions, sought by opposition forces, Abe, also head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, stopped short of going into details, saying only that parliamentary debates should take place on the topic.