The project is designed to reduce the number of deaths cause by colorectal cancer, which affects mainly men.

It will be the third cancer screening programme in Scotland, following the success of iniatives to tackle breast and cervical cancer in women.

The blitz on cancer is one element of a new drive to improve the health of the population outlined in a White Paper on public health launched by the Scottish Office and entitled "Towards A Healthier Scotland".

Another key priority of the White Paper is to improve the health of Scotland's one million children and young people by the year 2010.

Other key measures include:

• A major initiative aimed at the prevention and early detection of coronary heart disease;
• Measures to combat health inequalities between well-off and deprived communities.

Scottish health minister Sam Galbraith said: "Scotland is preparing to start a new century with many new opportunities.

"But it will do so with many of the same 'fifth columnists' which continue to undermine daily Scottish life. Cancer from smoking. Heart disease from poor diet and inactivity. Too many lives scarred by the unmistakable stamp of poverty and deprivation.

"That is why it is so vital that we place the public's health at the top of every community's agenda."

Integrated scheme

Sam Galbraith said the strategy would reduce health inequalities

Mr Galbraith said the new strategy would cut across traditional divisions of government to create a public health strategy that would encompass social issues such as housing as well as medical matters.

He said a multi-billion pound investment would be made in childcare and family centres, new community schools and new housing partnerships, and a Welfare to Work scheme.

Initial investment includes £34.5m for a network of health living centres to spread best practice across the country, and £15m to set up four demonstration projects designed to tackle health inequalities..

Measures to promote good health in children and young people include:

• Support and advice for parents on good diet;
• Promotion of breastfeeding;
• Improved dental health care including registration with a dental from birth;
• Better child care facilities;
• Promotion of sexual health;
• A drive to cut teenage pregnancies.

The measures will be expected to achieve the following targets:

• Sixty per cent 60% of five-year-olds to have no experience of dental disease by 2010;
• A reduction in the number of women who smoke during pregnancy from 29 per cent to 20 per cent by 2010;
• A reduction in the pregnancy rate among 13-15 year olds by 20 per cent by 2010.

The Scottish Office also hopes that by targetting cancer and coronary heart disease it can reduce the death rate of Scots under the age of 75 by 20%, and cut the number of people dying of heart disease by half by 2010.

The Heart of Scotland will focus on the prevention of heart disease through a healthier diet, encouragement to take more exercise, measures to reduce tobacco smoking, and a sensible approach to drinking alcohol.

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Margaret Smith said: "There is nothing in this paper that we would disagree with, but it does seem to be long on rhetoric, short on actual cash.

"We must be grown up about this. There does seem to be a general political consensus now that preventative action is the best way to improve public health.