The National Coal Board came into being on 1st January 1947, as part of the policy of the Labour Government which won a landslide victory in 1945. Herbert Morrison (Lord Mandelson’s maternal grandfather) was in charge of nationalisation until 1951.
“Bigger Bills.
UP AGAIN goes the price of coke and coal. No apologies – just a blunt announcement that ‘retail prices will be increased.’ No chance of a housewives’ strike, no chance of customers finding their coal elsewhere – the State monopoly permits no competition.
The simplicity of the nationalisation racket is terrifying. British Railways run at a loss, so freight charges go up. The Coal Board, therefore, must pay more for moving its coal. And it passes on the extra cost to the consumer. Household coal will cost up to 5s. a ton more. Industrial coal will cost an average of 1s. 6d. a ton more.
Without usurping the functions of Old Moore*, it is not difficult to prophesy future events. The British Electricity Authority and the British Gas Council are both state-run. They are both large coal consumers. A reasonable guess is that both will have to increase their charges.
Housewives, it seems, can look forward to bigger fuel bills all around. Industry, striving hard to keep down prices in the face of world competition, will have still greater difficulty in selling goods abroad.
It is to be hoped that delegates to the Labour Party conference at Dorking will bear these facts in mind when considering further nationalisation plans.”
The Stamford Mercury, 19th May, 1950.
*see his almanac.