Social Security System Council

This is an advisory body under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister that investigates, deliberates, and makes recommendations on the overall social security system, and was located in the former Prime Minister's Office. With the reorganization of central government ministries and agencies in 2001, it was abolished, and its general functions were taken over by the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy of the Cabinet Office, and its specific functions were taken over by the Social Security Council of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

The Social Security System Council was established in 1949 based on the Social Security System Council Establishment Act (1948) based on the "Social Security System Research Report" of the American Social Security System Research Group that visited Japan in 1947 (Showa 22). The Council had characteristics not seen in other councils. First, it had the mission and authority to study the legislation and operation of social security and to recommend to the Prime Minister that the results be submitted to the Diet. Second, the Prime Minister and the relevant Ministers had to ask the Council for its opinion on the planning, legislation, and operation outline of social security in advance. Second, it included Diet members as its members. Third, it submitted reports to the Diet. Fourth, it had its own secretariat. All reports and recommendations were written by the members and approved unanimously. The Council's "Recommendations on the Social Security System" (1950) is famous for presenting the ideas on social security, but was ignored by the government. In terms of content, the "Outline of a Tentative Study on the Social Security System" that was published before it was criticized by GHQ was more comprehensive and systematic and superior. Since then, it has pointed out the direction of social security with the "Report on Basic Measures for Comprehensive Adjustment of the Social Security System and Recommendations for Promoting the Social Security System" (1962), the "Proposal for the Form of Social Security to Address the Future Aging Society" (1975), and the "Recommendation for Reconstructing the Social Security System" (1995). However, it was abolished in 2001 with the reorganization of government ministries and agencies, and the macro aspects of economy and finance were taken over by the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy newly established in the Cabinet Office, while investigations and deliberations on important issues related to social security were taken over by the Social Security Council of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

[Kazuhiko Yokoyama]

"The Social Security System Council Secretariat (eds.) 'The 50-Year History of the Social Security System Council' and 'The Development and Future of Social Security: The 50-Year History of the Social Security System Council' (2000, Hoken)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

社会保障制度の全般にわたる調査、審議、勧告を行う内閣総理大臣の所轄に属する諮問機関で、旧総理府に置かれていた審議会。2001年（平成13）の中央省庁再編に伴い廃止され、その機能の総論的な部分は内閣府の経済財政諮問会議に、また具体的な部分は厚生労働省の社会保障審議会に引き継がれた。

　社会保障制度審議会は、1947年（昭和22）来日したアメリカ社会保障制度調査団の「社会保障制度調査報告書」による社会保障制度審議会設置法（1948）に基づき49年に発足した。同審議会は、他の審議会にみられない特色をもっていた。第一に、自ら社会保障関係の立法および運営について研究し、その結果を国会に提出するように内閣総理大臣に勧告する任務と権限があったこと。そして、内閣総理大臣、関係大臣は、社会保障関係の企画、立法、運営の大綱について、あらかじめ審議会の意見を求めなければならなかったこと。第二は、委員に国会議員を入れていたこと。第三に、国会に報告書を提出していたこと。第四に、専属の事務局をもっていたこと、などである。答申・勧告の文章は、すべて委員が作成し、満場一致で決定していた。同審議会の「社会保障制度に関する勧告」（1950）は、社会保障の考え方を示したことで有名であるが、政府に無視された。内容的には、GHQに批判される前の「社会保障制度研究試案要綱」のほうが総合的・体系的で優れている。その後、「社会保障制度の総合調整に関する基本方策についての答申および社会保障制度の推進に関する勧告」（1962）、「今後の老齢化社会に対応すべき社会保障の在り方について」の建議（1975）、「社会保障体制の再構築」の勧告（1995）と社会保障の行方を指し示してきた。しかし、2001年省庁再編に伴って廃止され、経済財政のマクロ面は新たに内閣府に設けられた経済財政諮問会議に引き継がれ、社会保障に関する重要事項についての調査審議等は厚生労働省の社会保障審議会に引き継がれた。

［横山和彦］

『社会保障制度審議会事務局編『社会保障制度審議会五十年の歩み』『社会保障の展開と将来――社会保障制度審議会五十年の歴史』（2000・法研）』

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