The government's blue-ribbon panel on administrative reform concluded Aug. 21 that the government should be revamped into a Cabinet Office, 10 ministries and two agencies by January 2001.
The Administrative Reform Council, headed by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, reached its conclusions after four days of intensive debate on streamlining the bloated government, currently comprising 22 government bodies, including 12 ministries.
The council also drew up a plan to privatize the life insurance system operated by the Posts and Telecommunications Ministry. The plan is part of a highly sensitive political issue.