TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said the government will discuss the economy, employment, bad loans and government-linked firms from early November, suggesting a new policy outline by the middle of the month. "I met the prime minister this morning and we agreed the government will intensively debate four issues from early November; the economic situation, employment, bad loans and government-linked corporations," Shiokawa said. "We will try to outline new directions for necessary policy measures, through these discussions, to cope with each of the four issues. It is not the time to discuss ideas but time to take concrete action," he said. "We need to move to a new stage," he said, "reaching a conclusion by mid-November."