Someone tweeted this graph earlier showing the decline in our coal industry

[Brentwood]

I don't understand how there was a huge reduction in manpower, but only a small reduction in coal output (relatively)?

machinery replacing humans?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIAQSi_CcAE3iln.jpg:large

['Neg]

[Mc Gooner]

restricted to) 1964-70 with a Wilson led Labour Government.

You don't hear the loony lefties criticising him or that Government

[Classic Jorge]

[Brentwood]

and more profitable, some might still be open

[Peter]

I imagine they closed the deeper ones first.

[Classic Jorge]

Of course, not that it's accessible now as the pits have all flooded and/or collapsed.

It's much less embarrassing to ship it in from abroad

[PSRB]

will come a time where the technology and costs involved will possibly make them viable again

[Mc Gooner]

However, the coal was so near the surface that there are now several profitable open cast mines. Go figure

I know where the real blame lay in blocking modernisation. All but one of my immediate family worked in the coal mining industry and the NUM misguidedly thought they were protecting their 'brothers'. That intransigence ultimately led to a permanent "all out" with no colleries to go back to

[Hillary]

Those pesky H&S rules and living wages...

On the one hand, many people die and are injured due to appalling safety standards abroad, on the other hand - cheaper coal.

[redgunamo]

[7evens]

Not a lot of people know that

[Mc Gooner]