Annabel Goldie said Tories would "ride to the rescue" of devolution

The Scottish Tory leader said the move underlined the party's drive to address concerns of people across the country.

She also pledged to give councils in Scotland a greater say in how they spend their budgets.

The proposals were unveiled at the Conservatives' UK conference in Bournemouth.

Ms Goldie said it would cost about �200m to fund the council tax cut for pensioners and would come on top of existing help for those who are retired.

She claimed a typical single pensioner in a band D property would save about �450 a year and a couple would see a �598 reduction in their bill.

I want to ensure that with a Scottish Conservative agenda we end up with a parliament that Scotland can be proud of Annabel Goldie

"Council tax has risen by 60% in Scotland since the Conservatives left office," she said.

"I think everybody understands that our senior citizens have far less flexibility and manoeuvring room when it comes to dealing with hefty financial charges."

Ms Goldie insisted that the plan was fully-costed and would be funded by the mutualisation of Scottish Water.

She also set out her plans for greater financial freedom for local councils and said, with the exception of police budgets, the ring fencing of council's central grants would be removed.

The Tory leader denounced the Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition at Holyrood in her speech.

'Grand empire'

She described the Scottish Executive as a "dodgy duo", sucking power away from communities, parents and patients.

"At vast expense it has created a grand empire of government and quangos," she said.

"And this whole cosy arrangement has become imbued with self satisfaction, self importance and total self delusion."

She accused the Scottish National Party of "craven complicity" with the executive and said the Tories would "ride to the rescue" of devolution.