Assembly members unanimously supported a motion calling for the educational rights of all children in the north Belfast area in the first full session of the Northern Ireland Assembly since the summer recess.

However, the original motion proposed by Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly, was modified by Unionists to include the rights of all children in North Belfast rather than specifically the children attending the catholic Holy Cross Primary School.

Meanwhile acting first minister Sir Reg Empey said the government's plans to implement changes to policing in the province would also be discussed.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster on Monday September 10, Sir Reg said: "The concept of reducing the size of the RUC against the current climate seems to us to be a very defective way of going about things. If you look at the stories this morning, we are depending on the police to hold the line in north Belfast.

“They are under pressure all over the country and we just don't see how you can reconcile that with a view to getting rid of the police reserve, for instance.”

Ulster Unionists have withheld nominations of party members to the 19-member policing board amid concerns over its appointees and some aspects of the police reforms.

The SDLP remain the only party that has said it will nominate members to the board for the new Police Service of Northern Ireland.

The board will be accountable for and handle some reforms such as decisions on the emblems of the new service and the oath sworn by officers.

Sinn Féin will not nominate because it claims the reforms do not go far enough for nationalists and republicans.

The DUP will only take their seats if the Ulster Unionists take theirs. The DUP claims if the UUP joins in refusing to nominate, they can "claw back" some of the concessions on policing made to nationalists by the British government that enabled the SDLP to join the board.

The province's pro-Agreement political parties are facing another deadline - 22 September - before which a deal must be agreed if the political process is to be put back on the rails.

If the parties fail to make the deadline Dr Reid then faces another decision whether to call fresh elections or again suspend the assembly. (AMcE)