When the Executive introduced the caries prevention scheme, targeted at six and seven years olds, in April 2001 £1.5 million was identified for payments to dentists under this scheme.In addition, the Executive has provided £12.8 million in practice improvement funding and £10 million in commitment payments to dentists since 2001; £2.5 million since 2003 to establish new and support existing emergency dental services; £1.5 million has been identified annually since 1997 for grants under the Scottish Dental Access Initiative; since 2002 £6 million has been identified for recruitment and retention measures.