It is very clear to me that we also need to support those doctors with the right levels of dedicated nursing and other support staff

Malcolm Chisholm Health Minister

He said the remainder would go towards the Beatson, where a number of consultants resign last year in a row over funding.

Mr Chisholm said the extra cash would enable the Glasgow centre to recruit 35 more cancer nurses, buy more chemotherapy equipment and beds and employ more support staff.

He said: "Improving cancer services and stepping up the recruitment of nurses for our wards are two of my top priorities for the NHS. Nowhere are those twin priorities more needed than at the Beatson.

"A lot of hard work is going into securing the vital cancer consultants we need to improve services in the west of Scotland, but it is very clear to me that we also need to support those doctors with the right levels of dedicated nursing and other support staff."

New centre

The minister said it was hoped the money would bring permanent nurse staffing levels up to a point where waiting lists can be reduced.

Mr Chisholm has already announced that a �50m state-of-the-art cancer centre will be built eventually to replace the Beatson.

The health minister pledged that patients would have access to what he believes will be one of the finest cancer treatment centres in Europe by 2007.

A new Beatson Centre will be in place by 2007

He described it as a "huge stride forward" for the development of modern cancer facilities in Scotland.

His latest announcement takes the amount the Scottish Executive is spending on its national cancer investment plan to �60m - 66% more than planned.

He said the additional funding should be seen as proof that fighting cancer across Scotland was "one of the top clinical priorities in the NHS".

Mr Chisholm said the Scottish Cancer Group, which is made up of cancer professionals and patients, was now looking at further ways of stepping up the fight against the disease.

He added: "It is clear that once again increasing the capacity of the NHS to tackle cancer - in staff, in equipment, and in expertise - will be at the forefront of their decisions."