Professor Tamara Hervey:

Some of the data we have in our research project from the faculty of public health in London suggests a deep concern from the public health community in terms of the way the economic impacts of Brexit will fall unevenly and hit communities that are already worse off in terms of public health indicators. The economic analysis, from either the UK Government or from independent sources, shows that Northern Ireland is an area where the economic impacts of Brexit are likely to be worse than other parts of the UK. The public health community is concerned about the implications of this for a number of health indicators. Some of our interview data talks about the effect of unemployment on mental health. There will be a need for greater investment in those kinds of health infrastructures as the effects of the economic consequences of Brexit are felt more broadly.

There is also a big discussion in the UK about food safety and allowing American food into the UK. There is a lot of opposition to that. It is highly politically salient. It will become quite difficult for any UK Government to do that, but who knows what will happen. There is a lot of opposition to Brexit, but that will not stop Brexit. It is difficult to know what will happen. The committee is right to identify an issue that is very important for the health community more broadly in terms of the bigger picture.