Nicola Sturgeon said the proposals were inadequate

The first minister unveiled 12 bills, including plans to protect children and new charities regulation.

However, Scottish National Party deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon said ministers were following a "Blair-lite" agenda.

Tory leader David McLetchie said Jack McConnell was adopting a new, if "unconvincing", persona as a reformer.

The legislative programme also included new transport measures, an updating of Scotland's licensing laws and a Gaelic language bill.

Ms Sturgeon was making her first speech since being elected to lead the SNP at Holyrood.

'Big challenges'

Alex Salmond was elected party leader on Friday, on the same day Ms Sturgeon became deputy - but as an MP he cannot speak at Holyrood - so the task falls to Ms Sturgeon.

The arrangement meant her speech was interrupted by remarks about "absentee lairds".

Ms Sturgeon described the legislative proposals outlined by the first minister as inadequate and disappointing and offered her own "big ideas for a big parliament."

She said: "It is not that any of the proposed bills are particularly objectionable.

"On the contrary, many of them are eminently supportable - particularly the measures to protect children against the evils of internet grooming."

Tory leader David McLetchie attacked cabinet policy

Ms Sturgeon added: "But taken together this legislative programme does not tackle the big challenges that we face as a nation. It lacks vision and a clear sense of purpose and direction for the nation."

The MSP for Glasgow proposed a string of other policies, including a bullet train between Glasgow and Edinburgh and a Green Card scheme to attract skilled foreign workers to Scotland.

Mr McLetchie described Ms Sturgeon as an Oscar nominee for "best supporting actress".

And he argued Mr McConnell's proposed education reforms bore "all the hallmarks of a minuscule change which will make very little difference".

He stressed that Tories would reverse the 32% increase in staff numbers in the Scottish Executive since 1999 - from 3,336 to 4,393 at the last count.

What we have from Mr McConnell is more of the same New Labour Thatcherism Tommy Sheridan MSP Scottish Socialist Party leader

Legislative plans drawn up by the first minister were also attacked by the smaller parties.

Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan said: "What we have from Mr McConnell as a prescription for the low pay and pensioner poverty sickness that afflicts so much of our small nation is more of the same New Labour Thatcherism."

Robin Harper of the Scottish Green Party warned against "growth for growth's sake", insisting "economic expansion must be in sustainable industry and sustainable development.

"The executive's programme is not sufficiently integrated or focused to achieve this aim," he insisted.

But Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace said of the legislative programme: "It is a serious, considered programme, appropriate to mark a new start for the Scottish Parliament in its new home.

"The legislation we intend to bring forward will help to continue the process of real change we have instituted in Scotland."

He added: "Devolution is working. The partnership is working. The Scottish government is delivering."

The debate ended when MSPs were cut short after microphones failed and business stopped early.