The whole notion of 'uneconomic' pils and subsidies' is highiv Both the Coal Board and the CEGB are state owned. So their profits and losses largely depend on government pricing policy (since it is largely buying from and selling to itself. Were the government to charge the CEGB coal, the Coal Board would show a profit and the CEGB a loss, reversing the present situation.
The NUM's Fact Sheet noted that: *Between the first quarters of 1982 and 1983 the price of coal to large industrial CULULICIS increased by cent. The price of electricity went up by 8.1 per cent. If the price of coal had risen to the same extent the Board's operating loss 01 49/ have been virtually eliminated. unprofitable to the CB. The closure An 'uneconomic' of reduces Coal operating losses. But it also cuts coal production. People who were previously mining a socially useful product now producing nothing. Society, just the sacked miners, lose.
The National Coal Board estimates the losses from collieries producing the least efficient 12 per cent of coal at £275 million for 1982-83 (about half total losses). The closure of these pits would throw 40,000 miners out of work, and Andrew Glyn has calculated that an additional workers lose their jobs as miners (Guardian 28 worker costs le government 2o,000 in lost taxes and higher benefit payments. So closing the NCBs major loss-making pits would cost the exchequer more for Board's losses.
only 4:7 per mining jobs (let relative future million would guesswork. 1973-74 and 1978-79 threw The closure Board long delays and about safety standards, Governments and not cost, when oil prices rose.
would also spending fell An unemployed figures, aull has a clear edge