Tobacco investments held by local authority pension fund

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, East Renfrewshire Council should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Dear East Renfrewshire Council,

I am seeking information about the value of the local authority pension fund’s investment in tobacco shares and bonds, as well as the income from those investments. Please provide whatever answers you can to the following.

1. What is the most recent available value of the local authority's pension fund?

2. What is the value of the fund’s directly-held investment in shares or bonds of the following companies: British American Tobacco, Imperial Brands, Japan Tobacco International, Altria Group Inc, Philip Morris International, Universal Corp, Alliance One International?

3. What is the total combined value of the fund’s directly-held investments in the companies named above?

4. What income did the fund receive from these investments in the last 12-month period for which records are available?

5. Does the fund have any other investments in tobacco via pooled investments? What is the value of these?

6. What is the local authority’s annual spend on smoking-related illness?

7. Please supply the number of deaths attributable to smoking in the local authority areas covered by your pension fund. Your Director of Public Health or equivalent should be able to supply this figure.

If you require clarification on any of the above questions, please get in touch on 0203 353 3616, or 07415154041 or email me at [email address]

Yours faithfully,

Rob Davies

Geddes, Craig, East Renfrewshire Council

Dear Rob

The Council does not hold a dedicated pension fund. Pensions are managed on behalf of ERC and its staff by the Strathclyde Pension Fund. You can find out about the fund at: https://www.spfo.org.uk/index.aspx?artic...

As this information is not held by us but is available from another organisation I am required to cite both S17 and S25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

East Renfrewshire Council offers the opportunity to apply to the Council for a review of how we have dealt with your enquiry. If you wish to proceed to review, please apply in writing within 40 working days to:

Chief Officer - Legal and Procurement
Council Headquarters
Rouken Glen Road
Giffnock G46 6UG,
marking your letter “Freedom of Information, request for review”, and stating the exact nature of the matter you wish to be reviewed.

The review will be carried out within 20 working days of receipt. If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the review, you have the right to then appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner who has extensive powers to investigate such matters. His address is:

Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
St. Andrews
Fife KY16 9DS

Yours

Craig

   Craig Geddes
   Council Records Manager
   East Renfrewshire Council
   Council HQ
   Giffnock
   G46  6UG
   (0141) 577 3059

   East Renfrewshire: Your Council, Your Future
  www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk

show quoted sections

*Customer Services, East Renfrewshire Council

1 Attachment

Dear Rob Davies

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request.

Please find your acknowledgement letter attached.

Kind regards

Shona

Shona MacLeod
Customer Service Officer/Assistant Registrar
Corporate and Community Services Department
Tel: 0141 577 3004
East Renfrewshire: Your Council, Your Future
www.EASTRENFREWSHIRE.GOV.UK
Did you know that you can access a wide range of council services online - 24/7? Visit www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/doitonline
Please consider the environment - Do you really need to print this e-mail?
Information security classification 

NO MARKING        No special handling practices
PROTECT              Protective action required
PROTECT+           Additional protective action         DPA sensitive

show quoted sections