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| Surrey council accused of hypocrisy over tobacco investments | Surrey council accused of hypocrisy over tobacco investments |
| (2 days later) | |
| Surrey County Council has been accused of hypocrisy after running stop smoking campaigns while investing in tobacco companies. | Surrey County Council has been accused of hypocrisy after running stop smoking campaigns while investing in tobacco companies. |
| A Surrey Mirror investigation revealed the council owns £15m of shares in five tobacco firms as part of its pension fund portfolio. | A Surrey Mirror investigation revealed the council owns £15m of shares in five tobacco firms as part of its pension fund portfolio. |
| The council said its pension focused on achieving maximum returns. | |
| But Green Party councillor Jonathan Essex called for it to take its money out of the industry. | But Green Party councillor Jonathan Essex called for it to take its money out of the industry. |
| 'Unethical' | 'Unethical' |
| A Freedom of Information request by Surrey Mirror newspaper revealed the council owns shares in five tobacco companies - including British American Tobacco. | A Freedom of Information request by Surrey Mirror newspaper revealed the council owns shares in five tobacco companies - including British American Tobacco. |
| Earlier this year, the council awarded a contract for a new stop smoking service that will target deprived communities, pregnant women and young people. | Earlier this year, the council awarded a contract for a new stop smoking service that will target deprived communities, pregnant women and young people. |
| And Helen Clack, council cabinet member for wellbeing and health, has welcomed the ban on smoking in cars carrying children. | And Helen Clack, council cabinet member for wellbeing and health, has welcomed the ban on smoking in cars carrying children. |
| Mr Essex said it was hypocritical for the council to invest in the tobacco industry. | Mr Essex said it was hypocritical for the council to invest in the tobacco industry. |
| He called for it to "show some leadership and take our money out of an industry that does so much harm and costs the NHS so much". | He called for it to "show some leadership and take our money out of an industry that does so much harm and costs the NHS so much". |
| Labour councillor Robert Evans said he would be asking questions about "who decided this, when it was decided and why". | Labour councillor Robert Evans said he would be asking questions about "who decided this, when it was decided and why". |
| 'Dangerous policy' | 'Dangerous policy' |
| The council said it was fully committed to reducing the numbers of smokers in Surrey. | The council said it was fully committed to reducing the numbers of smokers in Surrey. |
| "Our pension investments are completely separate and are managed independently with a focus of achieving a maximum return," it said in a statement. | "Our pension investments are completely separate and are managed independently with a focus of achieving a maximum return," it said in a statement. |
| Lisa Stonestreet, of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association, warned: "Returns at all costs is a dangerous policy. | Lisa Stonestreet, of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association, warned: "Returns at all costs is a dangerous policy. |
| "Over the long term, tobacco companies do not provide significantly higher returns than other companies." | "Over the long term, tobacco companies do not provide significantly higher returns than other companies." |
| She said she was concerned the council was suggesting that investment is a "separate bubble that exists outside of wider considerations". | She said she was concerned the council was suggesting that investment is a "separate bubble that exists outside of wider considerations". |
| "That just isn't true," she said. | "That just isn't true," she said. |