Complex history of coal’s fall

FEAR not Barrie Frost, as once again William Snowden takes 
to task anyone who has the temerity to disagree with his simplistic and one-sided view 
of history (Yorkshire Post, 
June 1). If only everything 
was as cut and dried as Mr Snowden makes out, life would be a breeze.

There was a whole raft of complex and complicated reasons for the move against coal.

William Snowden omits the nuclear question and the appointment of Sir Walter Marshall, ex-head of the Atomic Energy Authority as Head of the Central Electrical Generating Board.

He also forgets Nicholas Ridley’s report on the nationalised industries in 1977 which contained a “confidential annexe on countering the political threat” and which led to him becoming Secretary of State for Transport in 1983 thereby making him responsible for getting coal from the pits to the power stations.

Then there was Nigel Lawson’s replacement by Peter Walker to try to conceal the ever-growing ultra-right wing membership of the Thatcher government.

The battle lines were becoming ever clearer and, with the appointment of Arthur Scargill as head of the NUM, the miners were forced into a corner.

The simple fact of the matter is that had things been handled differently on both sides of the argument, we might now have clean coal technology and a guaranteed supply of energy rather than being plugged into Russian and Norwegian supply routes, the landscape splattered with “windfarms” making vast profits for the few and ever-increasing energy bills to fund it all. Read around your subject, Mr Snowden, and then you might well understand that nothing is ever black and white even though you may think that it is.

Easy to spend others’ cash

From: Michael Ross, Weeton Lane, Dunkeswick, North Yorkshire.

AW CLARKE asks (Yorkshire Post, May 30) if anyone can explain how so much money is given away by so many authorities and institutions with few or no questions asked, thus enabling so many fraudsters to benefit so easily. The answer is very simple. They are giving away other people’s money. They do not see it as coming out of their own pockets. If they did they may not be so obliging.

I have never understood why basic economics which affects every man, woman and child in the country is not taught in schools. The Government, councils, hospitals, the BBC et al do not have any money of their own. Whatever they have, spend, give away, pay out in compensation etc, etc, all comes from the tax rate, licence payer i.e. you and me!

Pushchair etiquette

From: Tim Mickleburgh, Boulevard Avenue, Grimsby.

IN reply to the letter from Susan Abbott about buggies (Yorkshire Post, June 1), they only have to be folded when either a person in a wheelchair wants their designated space, or if the buggy is preventing people from sitting down.

Surely therefore if anyone is being selfish or intolerant, it is those who are unwilling to do this? I do though agree with your correspondent that the presence of conductors would be a great help. Ironically though, in those days all buses were of the step entry variety, when pushchairs had to be folded as a matter of course.

Time to stop internet porn

From: D Birch, Smithy Lane. Cookridge, Leeds.

I HAVE been appalled at what would appear, according to the recent publicity, a vast amount of porn that is available for children, even at a young age.

They are taught about sex 
and marriage and the result of a baby to a man and a woman at school.

Should they now be taught 
on the internet by people basically bragging to anyone who cares to watch them of the variety of sex available and the immorality?

The internet appears to be a worthwhile item for many but in lots of ways it’s very wrong. When the computer came 
into use, it was for business purposes only.

Since then over the years it now controls people’s lives and this is a step too far.

The Government should be able to put some control in place to at least safeguard children. I know it is mainly the parents’ fault, but they need help to do it.

Hypocrisy over uniforms

From: P Dransfield, Main Street, Great Heck, Goole.

HOW brave of David Cameron and others to want soldiers to be in uniform all the time. So why does Cameron not wear his uniform? He does have one, as Chief of the Army and an MP.

The only time soldiers need 
a uniform is on parade, in barracks and in a theatre of 
war. The rest of the time, there is no need.