The government approved 17 bills Tuesday to slim down the administration in January 2001 along with a basic policy and plans to implement the reforms.

The bills, endorsed Tuesday by the administrative reform promotion headquarters and the Cabinet, will be submitted to the Diet today. The government hopes to have the bills passed by the end of the current session in mid-June.

Under the bills, the current 22 government ministries and agencies will become one office, 10 ministries, two agencies and a commission overseeing public safety. The reform plan emphasizes increasing the Cabinet's functions within the government to strengthen the prime minister's leadership.