Chamber and committees

This information is not held centrally in the Scottish Government. The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland appointment was carried out in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland. Paragraph 24.6 of the code indicates that the minister may choose to meet the candidates described in the candidate summary as suitable for appointment prior to making the appointment decision.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37699 on 2 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The New Scrutiny Bodies Reference Group met quarterly to help engage external stakeholders in the work to establish the two new scrutiny bodies, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS). With the appointment of the Chair for HIS and the Transition Director for SCSWIS it was felt it would be more appropriate for the teams responsible for each of the new bodies to communicate progress to their stakeholders in the run up to April 2011.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37702 on 2 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The appointment process for the chair of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) was conducted in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland. The appointment process was delayed from its original date in August as the post was re-advertised to enable ministers to be offered the widest possible choice of suitable candidates.

The selection panel which met on 14 October recommended a number of candidates were appointable. The Minister for Children and Early Years and I chose to meet all the selected candidates before making our decision on the appointment. We announced on 18 November 2010 that we have appointed Professor Frank Clark as chair of SCSWIS.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37695 on 2 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37699 on 2 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The time from bowel screening test result to date colonoscopy performed is a key performance indicator for the National Bowel Screening Programme.

In its commitment to continue to drive down waiting times for cancer treatment, the Scottish Government has included patients diagnosed with cancer following a positive screening testing in the 62-day cancer waiting time target. Patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer referred through the National Bowel Screening Programme are expected to have completed their diagnostic tests (including colonoscopy where appropriate) and received their first treatment within 62 days. Performance against this target will be published for the first time in December 2010 for quarter July to September 2010.

Unless there is a compelling clinical reason or the individual patient has indicated a desire to delay longer, no patient should wait longer than the six week standard diagnostic waiting time for a key diagnostic test “ including colonoscopy.

The information requested is not available centrally.