The SNP administration at Glasgow City Council has welcomed Nicola Sturgeon’s statement that the Scottish Government will look at the possibility of setting up a Parades Commission to rule on marches.

The First Minister said this week she would ask the Justice Secretary, Keith Brown to examine if it was a move that would help address tension around Orange Order parades and deal with sectarian breaches and “anti-catholic bigotry”.

Currently in Glasgow the council must be notified of any parade planned on the city streets by any organisation.

It is Orange Order and other loyalist organisations that have attracted attention with calls for them to be re-routed away from catholic churches.

The council takes advice from the police and liaises with the organisers to address any concerns.

It has the authority to convene the Public Processions Committee and can instruct a parade to be re-routed on the grounds of public safety.

This occurred on occasions in 2019 when marches gong past St Alphonsus’ Church in Calton were the subject of protest after Canon Tom Whit e was spat on and assaulted by a follower during an Orange march.

Last Saturday, during the biggest number of Orange parades in a single day since lockdown, there were protests outside a Catholic Church in the Gorbals, by a group who wanted the parade re-routed.

Police and the city council said there was no intelligence that suggested any of the the parades had to be re-routed on public order grounds.

After the parades Police said 14 arrests were made for a number of reasons including sectarian offences.

But the SNP led administration said the law offers only limited powers to the council in deciding on marches, routes and how many should be allowed to take place.

A City Government spokesperson, said: “The nature of parading and discussions around its impacts and associated behaviours has shifted in recent years. W

“We would welcome a national examination on whether the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 remain the most suitable legislative approach to parades and processions, and whether a parades commission should be formed to deal with the administration of parades.

“Any discussion on the future of parading must seek how best to balance the human right to protest with community and individual rights, taking into account disruption and equalities impacts on both affected communities and event organisers.

“Current legislation is limited in its scope to do this, which can be a source of frustration for local elected members and communities alike.”

The Glasgow Times contacted the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland for comment.