The system for granting parades will be reviewed

The adviser will review the licensing system for deciding whether parades can go ahead amid concerns about sectarian trouble at some marches.

It is thought ministers want to give communities a greater say on the issue.

At the moment marches can only be banned if the police believe there is a serious threat to public order.

The move follows calls for a Northern Ireland-style Parades Commission to reduce the number of marches in Glasgow and the west of Scotland.

First Minister Jack McConnell is expected to announce the appointment of an adviser by July.

'Bigotry and boorishness'

It is understood Mr McConnell has discussed the appointment with Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson and Communities Minister Margaret Curran.

Liberal Democrat MSP Donald Gorrie, who has supported efforts to stamp out sectarianism in Scotland, welcomed the plans.

He said: "The approach is absolutely correct. We can't ban marches which are a part of free speech, but I think we can regulate the number of sectarian marches, especially Orange marches which are ridiculously high.

"It's not a question of free speech but of annoying the other side.

I think it has to be more evenly balanced Donald Gorrie MSP

The MSP said community discussions and talks with the police should be held to try and resolve disagreement over specific parades.

Mr Gorrie said the present number of Orange marches, 200 in Glasgow and the same number again in North Lanarkshire, could not be justified as an expression of freedom of speech.

"They do cause a large amount of disruption and at the moment, as the law stands, the police and the council have to have very strong reason for trying to stop a march," he said.

'Marchers' rights'

"I think it has to be more evenly balanced - the point of view of the communities marched through, and the disruption caused, has to be taken into account as well as the rights of the marchers."

The parades issue hit the headlines again on Monday when Monsignor Peter Smith, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Glasgow, called for an outright ban on Orange marches.

Writing in The Herald newspaper, Mgr Smith said they provided a focal point for "bile, bigotry and boorishness".

The monsignor complained that his parishioners had been abused when marches passed his church.

Ministers respect the rights of organisations and individuals to have marches - but ministers also believe that councils and march organisers must respect the rights of communities Scottish Executive

However, the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland said it was unaware of the monsignor's complaints and criticised his decision to go to the newspapers instead of approaching its officials.

Spokesman Robert McLean said: "We will not be bullied into making decisions.

"We as an organisation, which has responsibilities, will take time, we'll speak to the local people, we'll make the decisions, but we will not be bullied by the Roman Catholic Church into making decisions."

An executive spokeswoman said ministers would shortly publish their response to a working group report on religious hatred.

That report made no specific proposals for religious marches and processions but ministers believed there was a need to examine the powers available to councils.

"Ministers will announce the appointment of a senior figure to examine the issues of marches," she said.

"That will be done along with police, local authorities and communities."

The review would cover issues like periods of notice for marches, the number of marches in particular areas, and the best way to involve communities in decision-making.

It would also look at the grounds available to councils to refuse permission for marches, or to re-route them.

And all types of marches and processions would be covered by the review, she said.