休眠預金法案 公正性の確保へ審議を尽くせ

10年以上休眠状態ったって、それは人のお金でしょう。
人権無視の狂った法案の可決には反対です。
これも多数決で押し切るつもりなのはみえみえです。
安倍首相はそろそろ退陣の時期ではないでしょうか。
少数意見を尊重するのも民主主義の大切なポイントです。

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Bill on using dormant accounts must be deliberated to ensure fairness
休眠預金法案　公正性の確保へ審議を尽くせ

A nonpartisan group of lawmakers has compiled a bill to use money in dormant bank accounts — accounts that have had no deposit or withdrawal activity for more than 10 years — for social welfare and other purposes.
　お金の出し入れが１０年以上ない休眠預金を、社会福祉などに活用するための法案を、超党派の議員連盟がまとめた。

The group said that it would submit the bill for passage during the current Diet session.
　今国会に法案を提出して、成立を目指すという。

Every year, about ¥50 billion worth of deposits are categorized as dormant and recorded as profits of financial institutions. Britain and South Korea have a system to use such funds to support welfare and other activities. The nonpartisan group drafted the bill based on those and other examples.
　休眠預金は毎年、約５００億円発生し、金融機関の利益に計上される。英国や韓国では、この休眠預金を福祉活動などの支援に使う制度がある。議連は、こうした例も参考に法案を作成した。

The bill stipulates that the money would be used for various welfare activities, including assistance for children, youth and impoverished people. But if depositors subsequently claim their money, it would be repaid, according to the bill.
　活用の対象として、生活困窮者や子供・若者に対する支援などが明記されている。預金者から請求があった場合は、休眠預金の払い戻しに応じる。

We think the bill’s aim to use such funds to improve welfare while paying due consideration to protecting depositors is reasonable.
　預金者保護に配慮しつつ、「眠れる資金」を福祉向上に役立てる趣旨は妥当だろう。

Private-sector organizations would be entrusted to distribute the funds to foster activities beyond the reach of the support from the government and other public-sector organizations. To coordinate the distribution, a general incorporated foundation called a “designated utilization organization” would be created.
　国などの公的支援が及ばない活動を助成する狙いから、資金配分を民間団体に委ねる。その司令塔が、一般財団法人として新設される「指定活用団体」だ。

This organization would choose several fund distribution organizations from among incorporated foundations around the country. Through the fund distribution organizations, aid funds would be given or loaned to nonprofit and volunteer organizations working on welfare projects.
　活用団体は、全国の財団法人などから公募で複数の「資金分配団体」を選ぶ。この分配団体を通じて、実際に福祉事業に取り組むＮＰＯやボランティア組織に助成金の給付や貸し付けを行う。

With the wisdom of private-sector organizations involved, we expect the money to be used for assistance in a way that suits situations on the ground.
　民間の知恵を生かし、現場の実情に合った支援が行き渡ることを期待したい。

Legal compliance important

However, it is worrying to see that there are not a few who doubt if the bill guarantees fair and transparent distribution of the funds.
　気がかりなのは、法案の内容に関し、公正で透明な資金配分が行われるのか心もとない、とする声が少なくないことだ。

They particularly find problems concerning good governance and legal compliance of the envisaged utilization and distribution organizations. Many of them point out that measures to prevent corrupt conduct such as payoffs from fund recipients are obscure.
　活用団体と分配団体のガバナンス（組織統治）やコンプライアンス（法令順守）に関する問題提起が目立つ。特に、支援先からの利益供与などの不正を防ぐ手立てがあいまいだとの指摘が多い。

Both organizations, which would broker a huge amount of funds, would require strict management.
　多額の資金仲介を担う両団体には、厳格な運営が求められる。

New Cabinet Office ordinances would be made to set up details of the system to use the deposits, according to the bill. However, we think that a law should include more details concerning regulation to secure fair distribution of aid funds, such as an auditing method.
　制度の詳細は、内閣府令などで定める方向という。だが、監査の在り方など、資金配分の適正さを確保するための規定については、法律でもっと明確に定める必要があるのではないか。

A measure to prevent people involved in the distribution of funds from providing “peer support” to organizations they belong or are related to is essential.
　配分に関与する人物が所属、関係する団体への支援など「お手盛り」を防ぐ措置も欠かせまい。

After all, money in dormant accounts belongs to the account holders. As much of this money as possible should be returned to the original depositors. Britain and South Korea have an online system enabling the public to check easily whether they have dormant accounts. Japan, too, should consider efforts to reduce the amount of dormant deposits.
　そもそも休眠預金は預金者のお金である。できるだけ減らすことが望ましい。英国や韓国は、休眠口座があるかどうか、一般の人が気軽に調べられるオンラインシステムを設けている。日本でも減らす工夫を検討してはどうか。

It is important to win the public’s understanding of the system to utilize dormant deposits by eliminating various suspicions about it. The Diet should thoroughly deliberate the bill to improve the envisaged system.
　休眠預金の活用策を巡る様々な疑念を解消し、国民の理解を得ることが重要だ。より良い制度とするため、国会は法案審議を十分に尽くすべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 30, 2015)