Staffordshire councils review tobacco pension investments

Staffordshire's councils are to reconsider their pension investments in tobacco companies ahead of plans for local authorities to take on public health duties.

Figures obtained by the BBC found that last month the councils had a total of £31m invested in tobacco firms.

The Politics Show West Midlands found that across the region council pension funds invested £126m in the industry.

Staffordshire pension fund managers are so far the only ones to review them.

As part of a national shake-up of health services, from April councils will be responsible for running local health campaigns including help for people to stop smoking.

Researchers asked each council pension group how much it had invested in the tobacco industry as of 17 December.

Other councils across England, including Norfolk County Council and Essex County Council, have previously said they would review their pension investments in tobacco companies.