Buckinghamshire Council is looking at how quickly it can “get out of” contracts with Russian-owned energy firm Gazprom, leader Martin Tett has said.

According to figures from data firm Tussell, the total public sector spend in the UK with Gazprom between 2016 and 2021 was £107 million – and more than a quarter (£29 million) was from local authorities.

Buckinghamshire Council, and the former Buckinghamshire County Council, accounted for £292,956 of the spend through contracts with the firm between 2017 and 2021.

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The largest annual spend of £183,984 occurred last year.

Suffolk and Manchester were the councils most reliant on Gazprom, each spending more than £4 million within the last six years.

A number of councils have now said they want to end contracts with Gazprom and are exploring alternative options, as attacks intensify following the Russian invasion of Ukraine last week.

When questioned by BBC South reporter Katharine Da Costa on March 3, council leader Cllr Martin Tett said it was important that they show “solidarity” with Ukraine.

Cllr Tett was standing in front of the Buckinghamshire Council offices, which were lit up in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

Ms Da Costa said: “A number of councils including Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire have pension investments in Russian assets, Buckinghamshire has a small number of contracts with Russian company Gazprom.

“What steps are being taken to cut those ties?”

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Cllr Tett replied: “That was one of the first questions I asked yesterday and you’re right, we have a very small number of tiny contracts and a very, very small investment in our pension scheme and we’re going to look at how quickly we can get out of those.

“It’s really important we show solidarity with the people of Ukraine.”

Hundreds of civilians have been killed in the conflict which has been condemned by leaders around the world.

A spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: “Councils are deeply saddened by the tragic events unfolding in Ukraine and are following the situation closely.

“It is up to individual councils to decide how to act locally but, like many organisations, they will be reviewing what action they might want to take in light of UK sanctions and the ongoing situation.”

The LGA added that it is looking at how to bring councils together next week to discuss their plans and agree shared approaches.

Meanwhile, a senior government source told the PA news agency that Health Secretary Sajid Javid has been in talks with NHS England over ending contracts with Gazprom.

The source told PA: “Sajid has spoken with NHS England and been clear that trusts need to stop using Gazprom as a supplier.

“He has also requested a wider review of any Russian role in supply chains across the health service.”

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The NHS accounted for £77 million (72 per cent) of the public sector spend with Gazprom over six years.

Newcastle Hospitals Trust topped the list with a spend of £14.9 million, followed by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust at £8.1 million and the Countess of Chester Hospital Trust, which spent £5.2 million.

Mr Javid's request comes after Lord Simon Stevens, former head of NHS England, told the House of Lords that “decarbonising the health sector will take pound notes out of the hands of dictatorial regimes that are engaged in acts of aggression”.