The SNP opposes Scots MPs voting on Engligh issues

Scottish National Party Westminster leader Alex Salmond said the time has come for the Speaker to be given powers to enforce the ban.

The move follows last week's furore over the use of Scottish Labour MPs to force through Labour's Foundation Hospital plans, even though the legislation does not apply to Scotland.

Concerns have also been raised about the issue of university tuition fees, which will not apply north of the border, although there are concerns that English universities will gain a financial advantage under the plans

Mr Salmond told BBC Radio Scotland: "In order for Scotland not to miss out in a mess created entirely by the government, you have to allow English-only bills to be voted on by English MPs.

'West Lothian Question'

"Secondly you have to give the Scottish Parliament financial powers so it does not suffer from the knock-on effect that it will suffer from foundation hospitals and top-up fees if they go through."

The SNP hopes the move will launch a far wider debate about the "West Lothian Question" - resolving the situation where Scottish MPs vote on England-only laws, but England's MPs cannot vote on matters devolved to Scotland.

Scottish Tory MP Peter Duncan said the West Lothian Question must to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

"It cannot be right for the present administration to be bailed out on contentious issues of legislation by members of parliament who do not have to be answerable to their own constituencies," he told BBC Radio Scotland.

There is a huge amount of anger among English Labour MPs at their Scottish Labour MPs being used by the Prime Minister to force through unwanted legislation Alex Salmond

The SNP proposes to use House of Commons Standing Order 97, a pre-devolution mechanism which allows Scotland-only matters to be dealt with by the Scottish Grand Committee without interference from English MPs.

If such a scheme was used for England-only matters, Scottish MPs would not only be banned from voting on such issues, but also from speaking in the debate, Mr Salmond said.

The votes of Scottish MPs will be crucial to Mr Blair's plans to raise university tuition fees to �3,000 a year in England.

Mr Salmond refused to be drawn on support from rebellious Labour MPs but said many were tired of MPs in Scotland being used as "lobby fodder" to force through unpopular Bills.

Mr Salmond says Scots MPs are used as "lobby fodder"

"There is a huge amount of anger among English Labour MPs at their Scottish Labour MPs being used by the prime minister to force through unwanted legislation," he said.

"The government has created a problem and to be fair to England, Scottish MPs should not be enforcing unwanted legislation on England.

"The Scottish Parliament must be given the financial muscle to pursue its own policies in a proper way."

Labour backbench MP Glenda Jackson played down talk of a cross-party alliance to tackle the issue.

She said that preventing Scottish MPs from voting on matters which only affect England may not be appropriate.