The head of the Orange Order Scotland has claimed his organisation is under attack by authorities in Glasgow, as it emerged bands whose behaviour falls outside that deemed acceptable will be "blacklisted" from parading in the city.

The head of the Orange Order Scotland has claimed his organisation is under attack by authorities in Glasgow, as it emerged bands whose behaviour falls outside that deemed acceptable will be "blacklisted" from parading in the city.

Ian Wilson, Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, admitted there were "real issues that need to be discussed regarding parades in Glasgow" but said previous attempts to broach the subject with the city council had been rebuffed.

Insisting the Orange Order had made strides to reduce the number of parades, Mr Wilson said his organisation had to take into consideration the increased volume of traffic on the streets but added that it would "dig its heels in" to maintain its larger summer events.

He also countered claims parades had a detrimental economic impact by claiming the events benefited the city by bringing a number of businesses and organisations who book into local hotels and restaurants.

His comments follow yesterday's revelations in The Herald that the council wants the number of Loyal Order parades cut from more than 250 to 20 and re-routed away from the city centre.

In an effort to confront the "hangers-on issue", it also emerged the council wants bands that accompany Orange Lodges or Irish Republican demonstrations and whose members engage in disorder, sectarian songs or chants, or attempts to stir up their followers, banned from the city.

The deputy leader of the council, Jim Coleman, said: "I think it's clear that, in developing a policy that works for modern Glasgow, we have to look at who is actually responsible enough to take part in these events. We would create, effectively, a blacklist for bands.

"If a band can't be trusted to behave, it shouldn't be on a parade in Glasgow - simple as that."

Last night Mr Wilson said: "I can't help feeling deeply disappointed that Glasgow City Council has chosen to attack us in this way.

"What is particularly frustrating is that we have made it clear that we are very interested in talking to city leaders about future parades.

"We have made progress in reducing the number of parades, a fact borne out by Glasgow City Council's own figures which show that, before 2004, there were 251 parades in Glasgow, in 2009 there were 183.

"What hasn't been explained is that a number of the parades mentioned are very small localised affairs with hardly any police involvement at all."

The head of the governing body of Strathclyde Police has also lent support to a cull of parades, claiming the previous Strathclyde chief constable, Sir John Orr, did not provide councils with enough leeway to regulate processions.

Paul Rooney, convener of the Strathclyde Police Authority, which a fortnight ago announced the force was facing a deficit of £200m, said: "Previous attempts, particularly the Orr Report, have not gone far enough. Reducing the number of events will free up officers to spend more time in local communities and reduce our costs.

"People have a right to march, but with civil liberties comes responsibility. Organisers must consider the disruption that is often caused by parades as well as the cost to the taxpayer, particularly in the current economic climate."