The Government is expected to crack down on the nation's security laws when its last legislative programme before next year's General Election is outlined in the Queen's speech today.

As well as Bills designed to protect the UK against al Qaida attacks, there will also be plans for a crackdown on both organised crime and petty offences that ruin people's lives.

Ministers are determined not to confirm plans for an early election, which is expected in May, by publishing only a brief list of Bills in the speech to be delivered by the Queen in the House of Lords.

All the predictions are that more than 20 Bills will be trailed, including those in the draft form increasingly favoured by the Government - even though they stand little chance of becoming law for years.

Chief among the measures announced will be a move towards introducing identity cards and steps to create a nationwide serious crime agency, dubbed the British equivalent of the FBI.

Other Bills will deal with youth sentencing and cleaning up areas where graffiti, litter and other nuisances are making people's lives a misery.

But some of Home Secretary David Blunkett's most controversial proposals on security in the wake of September 11, including the potential use of wire taps in court cases for the first time, may not be previewed at all.

Among controversial measures will be a continuation of the Government's determination to press ahead with the Gambling Bill, introduced in the last session.

Although ministers say it will limit the number of casinos able to offer unlimited jackpots on their slot machines to eight, opponents are still objecting to the expansion of the betting culture.

The Queen is expected to announce the Government will introduce an Education Bill giving schools greater freedom, along with other moves to continue New Labour's agenda of "opportunity for all".

Among other measures, unions will be expecting a Corporate Manslaughter Bill to be announced. The Bill is designed to hold to account bosses where it is claimed that they are responsible for disasters where customers or employees lose their lives.

And the Government is expected to spark a new bout of controversy over the proposed EU constitution with its promised announcement of the introduction of a paving Bill for a referendum on the move.