George Reid, Scotland's former presiding officer, is to lead a major reform of Northern Ireland's Assembly.

The administration behind the political leadership is in need of a review to adjust to the end of the assembly's suspension earlier this year.

Among Mr Reid's qualifications for the job has been his role in turning around the disastrous management of the Holyrood building project four years ago.

Having stood down as presiding officer before the May election, his appointment is to be announced today, making him chairman of a steering group that has until late October to reshape the Stormont secretariat. The invitation has come from William Hay, speaker of the assembly at Stormont.

Mr Reid has also taken up a role as visiting professor at Glasgow University, while heading a European Commission mission to calm tensions between countries in the Caucasus region. He said his Northern Ireland role is part of a fresh start at Stormont, for elected representatives and staff alike.