Letter: Pit closures and the brutality of economic policy

Sir: The Government's problem, caused by the decision to close 31 mines and cut 30,000 jobs, has the making of a significant opportunity, both for the Government and the miners.

If the miners believe there is an economic case for keeping the 31 pits open, why not give them the chance to prove their point? Instead of spending pounds 1bn in closure costs, the Government could sell the pits to the miners for a nominal sum, give them a grant for working capital at the rate of pounds 33m per mine and allow the miners to control their own destiny.

The miners have shown they have the fighting spirit to tackle adversity. As a venture capitalist, I know how effectively people respond to being freed from the shackles of bureaucracy. Now is the time for nanny to stand back and let them have a go on their own. Britain could have 31 new entrepreneurial energy suppliers, instead of preserving the decaying monolith of British Coal.

Yours faithfully,

HUGH STEWART

Andover, Hampshire

16 October