from Peter. Jonner
Well over 100 local working class organisations have been invited to tho
the inaugural meoting of Harrow CSE on Friday, February 18th, at the Labour.
Hall, Wealdstone, Ralph Miliband, senior lecturer in politics at London
University, will answor the question "Whore is the labour Government ~~
going™, linking his talk to the neod for the establishment of a chain of
Centres for SoCialist Education, In the chair: Geoff Carlsson, chairman ~
of shop stewards, ENV, The mecting will also consider proposals for the
operation of the Centre, including debates, study groups, discussions and
other activity, A permancnt committee is to be set up to plan a dotailod
programmes mg eae <: ee oes
Fuel policy continued/
(2) From G.C, Shegard, general secretary of the Colliery Officials and Staffs Area section of the N.U.M. Questions: Are you satisfied with the present fuel policy which is being carried out by the Government? Answers: The term fuel "fuel policy" has become one of the most circulated cliches in common use since the end of the war. It is also the one cliche for which it is impossible to find any agreed definition...in fact, those who articulate most under the heading "fuel policy" are the least enthusiastic to attempt a definition. The truth is that to plan or preconceive a role for a nationalised industry, which is by its very nature an industry geared to supplying one commodity of several alternatives, within a free overall economy is a supreme paradox from the outset, To the extent that Labour's policies are only politically acceptable to the electorate so long as they eschew the totalitarian concept then Labour is highly inhibited in the steps it can take to maximise the usage of indigenous solid fuel as one of the alternative sources of fuel and energy that are available in this generation, In my view and conscious of the fact that the electorate places a supreme requirement on its "freedom of choice" the Government should take steps on two specific aspects of the problem, as far as coal is concerned: (i) it should insist that the Coal Board re-orient completely its traditional attitudes that their responsibilities stop at the pit gates and should vigorously assume complete control of the distribution side of the industry; and (ii) should examine the entire economics of the transportation o7 coal and the structure (concealed as they are) of freight charges on coai: both these issues dwarf,the sort of national debate which drags on endlessiy about the future ofS0al industry...esuch debate, ending as it does, at the colliery precincts. Question: Do you think that Labour's pledge to carry out an integrated fuel policy is being adequately honoured? Answers No! pledges about the integration of fuel and energy sources should not be made except as concomitants of a parallel pledge to nationalise any alternative sources at least at their point of arrival within this country. And it is doubtful if, electorally, such a policy is acceptable..: one discerns no concern within the trade union movement even, to demand the rationalisation of North Sea gas potential or the petrol and oil supply and refining, Question: Would you favour Governmental intervention in the oil industry, including the nationalisation of its commanding heights? Answers Yes, within the only dimension that such a concept is realistic at all, Viz.: at the point of arrival in the U.K. Questions Do you think it is possible to integrate fuel policy without control of the key oil industries? Answer: Noe Question: Under the present policies being carried out, what in your opinion is the future in mining? Answer: A future characterised by even more rapid withdrawal to the hard core of highly economic units whence even their future is rondered less certain by the fallacy of the assumption that thinking and policies apropos the coal industry can afford to terminate at the pit gates Kentians’ over/
Fuel policy continued/
Questions: Are you satisfied with the provisions which are being made to
assist mining communities which are affected by the closure programme?
Answer: Nos
Questions If not, what provisions would you recommend?
Answer: A broad declaration from the Board of Trade and other Ministries
that certain mining areas are scheduled as Development Districts: that
additional factory accommodation is intended: that by a certain year and
under the National Plan there will be a manpower shortage of x,000, all
require converting into strictly pragmatical steps to deal with the problem
of contraction in mining areas. The 1960's call for more sophisticated
applications than mere policy declarations: get Ministry of Labour and Board
of Trade, and Employer organisations all down to the job at the colliery
and within the community concerned and deal with the problem...instead of
postul ating it.
Question: Would you advise your son to be a miner?
Answer: No! but he would probably find plenty of vocational scope in the
endless manufacture of comment, and policy papers, and publicity mart, all
of which place upon coal the virtually impossible role of trying to function
as a nationalised industry in a sector of the economy which, at the same
time, houses the very citadels of private enterprise in the shape of the
oil combines: and having taken on the challenges from thosesources the coal
industry is required to carry and harbour a distribution set-up which is
the very antithesis of what the nationalised concept stands for.