The Queen has underlined the UK Government’s hopes of keeping Scotland in the UK.
Her comments at the State Opening of Parliament come with less than 500 days to go before the historic poll on the country’s constitutional future.
Outlining the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition’s programme, she said: “My Government will continue to make the case for Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom.”
In the traditional ceremony, the Queen outlined eight Bills which apply in full to Scotland but none which apply exclusively north of the border. It was also notable for what it missed out.
There was no mention of UK Government plans for plain packaging for cigarettes and minimum unit pricing for alcohol in England.
Liberal Democrat MP Michael Moore, the Scottish Secretary in the UK Government, said the coalition is delivering “positive change” for Scotland.
Bills included cross-border proposals for reducing red tape in a Deregulation Bill, an Immigration Bill, a Defence Reform Bill to improve equipment procurement, the creation of a single-tier pension and protection for intellectual property rights.
Another Bill aims to reduce the cost of employment for firms, which translates to 70,000 businesses in Scotland sharing in saving £100 million from additional National Insurance contributions relief, according to the Scotland Office.
Mr Moore said: “The Bills and measures we are setting out today are good for Scotland and strengthen the position of employees and employers alike. They will also make progress on issues such as the future of our high-speed rail network.”
Labour MP Margaret Curran, the Shadow Scottish Secretary, said the Government is running out of ideas.
“People across Scotland are looking for action to get our country moving,” she said.
“There was nothing in this speech to boost employment, no action to tackle rip-off energy companies and not a single move to ease the squeeze on families who are struggling to make ends meet.”
Labour would have introduced a Jobs Bill to boost employment and an Energy Bill to tackle “rip-off” utility companies, she said.
Angus Robertson MP, the SNP’s Westminster leader, said: “This speech underlines exactly why Scotland needs good government with independence, not bad government from Westminster.
“The speech shows that Westminster isn’t working for Scotland. Instead of boosting economic growth it is focusing on a lurch to the right politically and is out of touch with the people of Scotland.
“What’s not in this speech is as revealing as what is in it. No mention of promised progressive measures such as following Scotland’s lead on minimum pricing for alcohol, or plain packaging for the sale of cigarettes.”
The speech, with its focus on immigration, reflects Tory panic from the rise of Ukip in England, he added.