It is expected to be the last Queen's Speech before an election

The Queen's Speech featured 32 bills, including plans to give the Scottish Executive more power over the railways.

Scottish Secretary Alistair Darling said it was "a programme for a strong Scotland and a strong UK".

But Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond said the executive would "kow-tow to London's policy agenda".

He accused First Minister Jack McConnell of "abdicating his responsibility by continually deferring to the Blair agenda".

BILLS WHICH APPLY TO SCOTLAND Child Benefit Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Consumer Credit Disability Discrimination European Union Gambling Identity Cards International Organisations Judicial Pensions National Lottery Railways Road Safety

Mr Salmond said the policy agenda set out in the speech "undermines the Scottish Parliament with the continuing abuse of the Sewell motions.

"Already 51 Sewell motions have been passed by the Scottish Parliament since 1999 and this number looks set to increase dramatically again."

Sewell motions are a mechanism whereby Westminster can legislate on Scotland's behalf and the executive can then tag this on to its own legislation.

Holyrood's Parliamentary Business Minister Margaret Curran said Sewel motions were proposed for 10 bills contained within the Queen's Speech.

These included the Constitutional Reform Bill to create a UK-wide Supreme Court, the Gambling Bill and the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill.

This will aim to strengthen the fight against organised crime through the creation of a new UK-wide agency.

BILLS WHICH PARTLY APPLY TO SCOTLAND Animal Welfare Constitutional Reform Drugs Education Inquiries Management of Offenders Serious Organised Crime Equality

A Sewel motion is also proposed over the Railways Bill, which would scrap the Strategic Rail Authority and allow more powers to be transferred to the Scottish Executive.

The proposal would give ultimate control of rail spending to Holyrood.

Ms Curran said: "A package of bills has been announced, several of which have provisions affecting Scotland, on which the Scottish ministers have been in discussion with UK ministers for several months.

"Some, like the Railways Bill, will confer new powers on Scottish ministers to improve transport services.

"Others, like the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill, will enhance our capacity to fight crime in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK."

She pointed out that some areas, like gambling, were reserved to Westminster.

BILLS WHICH DO NOT APPLY TO SCOTLAND Charities Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Criminal Defence Service Crossrail Mental Capacity Public Service Ombudsman (Wales) School Transport Transport (Wales)

"In those areas that are devolved, legislating at Westminster - always, crucially, subject to the consent of the Scottish Parliament - means that in dealing with issues like serious organised crime, which respects no borders, we can readily achieve an effective cross-border approach," she added.

Mr Darling said that the majority of the bills being proposed included provisions which would apply in Scotland.

"This is a programme for a strong Scotland and a strong UK," he said.

"It will encourage opportunity, fairness and equality. Most of the bills will directly benefit the people of Scotland."

Some measures included in the speech, such as those on religious hatred and organised crime, are the subject of separate existing legislation already brought in by the Scottish Parliament.