Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the mental health and wellbeing of people living in tier 3 covid-19 restricted areas.

There is a variety of evidence on mental health, including detailed surveillance reports from Public Health England. There are likely to be some short-term negative mental health impacts associated with restrictions under the tier system. The ‘Government’s Analysis of the health, economic and social effects of COVID-19 and the approach to tiering’ published on 30 November is available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/939876/Analysis_of_the_health_economic_and_social_effects_of_COVID-19_and_the_approach_to_tiering_FINAL__SofS_.pdf

The tier system in England will be reviewed in the next two weeks, with areas being added to, removed from or remaining on the highest tier 3.