Abstract
The strategy that was forged by British Coal (BC) during and immediately after the 1984–5 strike — a strategy that discarded the industry’s traditional obsession with production targets, and adopted a clear set of market guidelines and cost parameters1 — has brought in its train spectacular improvements in the industry’s productivity and performance.2 However, it cannot be expected to survive without adjustment indefinitely. Time inevitably alters the energy market environment, and the most appropriate short-and medium-term goals for any industry within it must be adapted in response. Highlighting some of the new and challenging prospects that have come to confront British coal mining since 1985, this chapter draws attention to a number of developments that should by now have begun to inform the attitudes of management (and unions) towards the investment component of the industry’s strategy in particular. It is not clear that, to a sufficient degree, they have in fact done so.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes and References
House of Commons, 1987, First Report from the Energy Committee, Session 1986–87, The Coal Industry, HMSO, London, pp xxxiii ff.
British Coal Corporation, 1989 (and previous years), Report and Accounts 1988/89, BCC, London.
House of Commons, 1988, Third Report from the Energy Committee, Session 1987–88, The Structure, Regulation and Economic Consequences of Electricity Supply in the Private Sector, London, pp lix ff
Jenkin, F P, 1988, The Need for Hinkley Point ‘C’, proof of evidence to Hinkley Point ‘C’ power station public inquiry (including addenda), CEGB, London
Manners, G, 1987, ‘British Coal and the Privatising of Electricity Supply’, Public Money, 7 (3), 31–8.
Prior, M and McCloskey, G, 1988, Coal on the Market, Financial Times International Coal Report, London.
Parker, M J, 1988, The Need for the Development of the Coalfield, proof of evidence to the Hawkhurst Moor public inquiry, BCC, London, p 4.
Cole, H, 1989, In Response to the Evidence of Mr M J Parker, proof of evidence to the Hawkhurst Moor public inquiry, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Solihull.
Manners, G, 1989, Concerning the Issue of Need, supplementary proof of evidence to Hawhurst Moor public inquiry, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Solihull, pp 9–10
The Independent, 3 April 1989.
House of Commons, 1989, Sixth Report from the Energy Committee, Session 1988–89, Energy Policy Implications of the Greenhouse Effect, HMSO London, p xxxviii.
Secretary of State for Energy, 1989, in House of Commons, Session 1988–89, Third Report from the Energy Committee (Session 1987–88) on the Structure, Regulation and Economic Consequences of Electricity Supply in the Private Sector: Follow Up, Minutes of Evidence, 25 January 1989, HMSO, London, p 16.
Monopolies and Mergers Commission, 1989, British Coal Corporation, HMSO, London, 63–9.
Moses, K, 1988, The Need for the Development, proof of evidence and supplementary proof of evidence to Hawkhurst Moor public inquiry, BCC, London, passim.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1991 Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Manners, G. (1991). The Future of Coal-Mining in Britain. In: Pearson, P. (eds) Prospects for British Coal. Surrey Energy Economics Centre. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-11508-2_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-11508-2_3
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-11510-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-11508-2
eBook Packages: Palgrave Economics & Finance CollectionEconomics and Finance (R0)