To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the reviews conducted by his Department into the accountability of health boards; and when he expects to publish the findings.

The chief executive of the NHS in Scotland carries out accountability reviews of each health board each year. The reviews are primarily intended to agree the board's objectives for the following year. These will be reflected in a variety of published documents, such as the board's local health strategy, local charter for health etcetera.