Northern Ireland’s First and Deputy First Minister will meet Gordon Brown in Downing Street today to discuss devolving policing and justice powers.
Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward is also expected to attend the stock-taking exercise of progress to date.
Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness wants responsibilities transferred from London to the Belfast administration as soon as possible but DUP First Minister Peter Robinson intends to ensure funding and sufficient community confidence is in place.
Yesterday, PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott said the last of the full-time reserve would be disbanded in a blow to unionists who fear the threat of dissident republican violence. It means the 440 officers will be gone by March 2011.
Retaining the reserve had been part of the DUP’s plans for enabling devolution to go ahead.
Mr Robinson yesterday said threats from Sinn Féin would stall negotiations on the devolution of justice powers.
This week Sinn Féin national chairman Declan Kearney stopped short of questioning the future of the Stormont administration but accused unionists and the Government of playing fast and loose with the talks.