To ask the Scottish Executive what account has been taken of any savings to the NHS and local authorities in social care costs as a result of people being able to lead independent lives for longer if donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine were to be prescribed to those suffering from the mild form of Alzheimer’s disease The National Institute forHealth and Clinical Excellence (NICE) process for developing its multipletechnology appraisals takes factors such as wider benefits to patients’families and society into account when it is appropriate to do so.NICE’s economic modelling onits work for the appraisal of donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine includedan assessment of the impact of benefits accruing to carers.