A 30-minute news feature, hosted by Ruth Pitt and Geoff Druett. This episode largely covers issues surrounding the coal and steel industries during the Miners' Strike. The first segment of this programme, titled ‘Miners: What Price Peace?’ sees a discussion between Jack Taylor, President of the Yorkshire Miners, and Peter Hall, the National Coal Board Deputy Director; they discuss the opinions of their respective committees, dealing with pit damages, and how to move towards ending the...

A 30-minute news feature, hosted by Ruth Pitt and Geoff Druett. This episode largely covers issues surrounding the coal and steel industries during the Miners' Strike. The first segment of this programme, titled ‘Miners: What Price Peace?’ sees a discussion between Jack Taylor, President of the Yorkshire Miners, and Peter Hall, the National Coal Board Deputy Director; they discuss the opinions of their respective committees, dealing with pit damages, and how to move towards ending the dispute between the NUM and the NCB. The second segment, ‘What price Solidarity?’ talks on the relationship between the Coal industry and the Steel industry, and Arthur Scargill’s proposal to stop steel production. Roy Bishop, of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation, features in this segment. Finally, ‘Will the Government Act? Sees a talk between Richard Wainwright (Liberal MP, Colne Valley), Bill Michie (Labour MP, Sheffield Heaney), and Richard Hickmet (Conservative MP, Glanford and Scunthorpe) on whether or not the government can, and should, take action towards ending the miner’s disputes. Jim Naughtie also features briefly in this section, sharing the issue of the Strike from a Parliamentary perspective, with detail to Thatcher’s approach to the strikes. Miners: What Price Peace? There are two main figures at the centre of this dispute; Arthur Scargill, and Ian McGregor. Scargill has maintained an unwavering stance throughout; he wants to protect pits and jobs, and will not condone or entertain a run-down of the industry, unless the pit in question has been exhausted of its resources. McGregor (Chairman of the NCB) wants an efficient, productive, and profitable industry; this may mean less pits, but there will be bigger wages for workers. After 15 weeks of the dispute, there seems little hint of compromise from either side. McGregor sent a letter to miners, stating that they had been deliberately misled, and asked for a return to work. Scargill argues that this letter will only increase the determination of striking miners to win the fight. Jack Taylor, president of Yorkshire Miners, and Peter Hall, NCB Deputy Director, talk with Druett. Hall think that this letter has the potential to bring about a return to work, but emphasises this as a slow return. He disagrees with Scargill’s view of the letter increasing the determination of miners, and argues in favour of the sentiment expressed by the Coal Board, that many are on strike against their will, as they fear what will happen to them if they do return to work. Taylor, alternatively, believes that it is no question that everyone in the industry wants to go back to work, but they want jobs lined up for them when they get there. He argues that, since the last week, there has been an increase in people turning up at strike centres to picket and help the cause, and since the distribution of McGregor’s letter, no one striking in Yorkshire has returned to work. Hall suggests that the attitude of Scargill is that there can be no compromise, so new ideas from the NCB are not likely, and questions how long the NUM can keep up their own methods. Taylor responds in favour of Scargill’s view; that the situation of jobs is not up for debate. He argues that there is no more expectation for steelworkers to contribute to the cause, that there was for miners to contribute to the steel disputes, but that there was a collective agreement, at least in Scunthorpe, to help one another. Steel: What Price Solidarity? At the centre of the Coal dispute is also the Steel industry. Scargill wants to stop steel production, and is trying to impose a blockade on coal supplies, with the intention of putting pressure on McGregor and the Government. An Iron and Steel Trades Confederation Conference has revealed that steel workers do not want production cuts. There are worries about losing orders and an increase in foreign imports, as well as job security. Roy Bishop, of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation, features in this segment to discuss the Steel industry’s reluctance to support miner’s efforts and NUM blockades. Bishop believes that the current propositions generate a large number of jobs being put on the line, which could virtually put the whole of the British Steel industry at risk, The main concerns are about the level of the commitment expected by the NUM to the cause. Bishop explains that last week, the Executive Councillor of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation accepted the NUM offer to meet and discuss their proposals of steel output reduction. Pitt questions further that, if coal supplies cease to come into steel plants, what will those steel plants do? Bishop states that, inevitably, those steel plants would close. He argues further that the strikes have highlighted that the government is intent on ensuring that employers will win any dispute with the Trade Unions; money is no object. He explains that, overall, the resolution at the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation Conference stated that steel workers support the miners’ cause, but there needs to be a meeting with the Miners Executive to discuss the prospect of halting steel production, and the blockage on coal supplies. There needs to be, Bishop states, an agreement on the satisfactory coal levels provided to the steel plants, and NUM recognition of the precariousness of the steel industry. Bishop clarifies his belief that it is reasonable for the miner's to ask for support, as they are in alliance, but in this, steel plants also require other assurances from the miners. Will the Government Act? One group of South Yorkshire County councillors, seeing no end to the disputes, called for a Court of enquiry to end pit strikes, believing an act of political will is needed for a peaceful return to pits. Richard Wainwright (Liberal MP, Colne Valley), Bill Michie (Labour, Sheffield Heaney), and Richard Hickmet (Conservative, Glanford and Scunthorpe) feature as guest speakers to discuss whether the government has the means to implement them. Hickmet argues that, in the past, the government have attempted to run industrial relations from No.10 Downing Street, but it has never been successful. He believes that the government are taking action regarding the strikes. He argues that the approach should not be to surrender to what Thatcher described as the ‘mob-rule’; and that to have the representatives of Scargill and McGregor in Parliament to negotiate would not work; he believes it would be a display of weakness for the government to involve itself in negotiation. Michie discusses that, if Labour were in power, the would begin by trying to make arrangements for discussions with NUM, and suggesting that the 1974 ‘Plan for Coal’ that still has viability. He argues that the government have tried to suggest a lack of involvement in the coal disputes and strikes, but calls back to the 1978 Ridley report to suggest involvement from its earliest point. Michie believes that the government have created this situation themselves, and now rid themselves of the responsibility. Wainwright argues that a thorough 2–3-day debate is long overdue, on the basis that this will create some kind of initiative towards change. He suggests that the 1974 Plan for Coal is out of date, and a government with no fuel or energy policies leaves everyone connected to the coal industry in uncertainty. Wainwright believes that there must be a new Plan for Coal produced, and that Parliament should have introduced this long ago, as the whole plan for economic growth falls into ruins due to this strike. Jim Naughtie features also in this segment to discuss the strikes from the perspective of Parliament. He expresses possible concerns that Thatcher’s lack of action, and to have ignored this chance for being a peacemaker, may be a mistake for her. He fears she may regret the way the government have pinned themselves into a corner with the way they have approached the issue of the Strike’s thus far. Presented by GEOFF DRUETT, RUTH PITT Featured JACK TAYLOR, ROY BISHOP, PETER HALL, RICHARD HICKMET MP, BILL MICHIE MP, RICHARD WAINWRIGHT MP, and JIM NAUGHTIE Editorial Assistant ALI RASHID Director GARY WARD Executive Producer GRAHAM IRONSIDE Yorkshire Television Ltd. 1984 YORKSHIRE TELEVISION Production