Merton council has invested more than £5m in tobacco companies while spending money to discourage people from smoking a Freedom of Information request has revealed.
The Wimbledon Guardian report:
Merton Council is spending £163,000 this year on NHS Stop Smoking Services while holding investments worth more than £5m in tobacco companies.
A Freedom of Information request revealed £5,584,843 was invested in the British American Tobacco Company, makers of Lucky Strike and Benson and Hedges cigarettes, and £2,296,518 in Imperial Tobacco, who make Lambert and Butler cigarettes as of December 30 last year are part of the council’s pension investment fund.
The council has stated the overall figure invested in tobacco since that date is now £5,018,763.