To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timescale is for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence investigation into anti-cholinesterate drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s disease. (83272)

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has received appeals against its final appraisal determination on these drugs. These appeals will be heard on 13 and 14 July. Subsequent timescales depend on the outcome of the appeals. Details of the appeals process are available in NICE’s “Guide to the Technology Appraisal Process” which is available on its website at www.nice.org.uk. Until NICE issues its final guidance following appeals, the existing 2001 guidance continues to apply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has had discussions with other European health Ministers about treatment for people with Alzheimer’s disease. (83722)

The Department have not had any discussions with other European health Ministers about treatment for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of the proposed withdrawal of Ebixa on the treatment of people in the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease, with particular reference to the effect on behavioural symptoms. (84000)

No such assessment has been made. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has not yet issued its final guidance to the national health service on the use of Aricept, Exelon, Reminyl and Ebixa in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s recommendations on the prescription of drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease on (a) people with dementia, (b) carers of people with dementia and (c) families of people with dementia. (84001)

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has not yet issued final guidance to the national health service on the use of drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Until it does so NICE’s original guidance issued in 2001 continues to apply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact on families’ ability to look after mentally ill relatives of the recent National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s decision on drugs for the treatment of dementia. (84381)

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has not issued final guidance regarding its review of anti-cholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. NICE has received appeals against its final appraisal determination on these drugs, which will be heard on 13 and 14 July 2006. Until NICE issues its final guidance following appeals, the existing 2001 guidance continues to apply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her strategy is for ensuring access to drug treatments for people in the (a) early and (b) later stages of Alzheimer’s disease. (84436)

It is for clinicians to decide in any particular case, the appropriate drug treatment, if any, for patients in the early or later stages of Alzheimer’s disease, in the light of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance.