The Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946 (9 & 10 Geo. 6. c. 59)[1] was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which nationalised, or brought into state control, the coal industry in the United Kingdom. It established the National Coal Board as the managing authority for coal mining and coal processing activities. It also initially provided for the establishment of consumers' councils. The Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946 was the first of a number of Acts promulgated by the post-war Labour government to nationalise elements of the UK's industrial infrastructure; other Acts include the Electricity Act 1947; the Transport Act 1947 (railways and long-distance road haulage); the Gas Act 1948; and the Iron and Steel Act 1949.[2]
The Coal Industry Nationalisation Bill was published in December 1945 by the Minister of Fuel and Power, Emanuel Shinwell, and got passed through the House of Commons by his Parliamentary Secretary Hugh Gaitskell. Several commentators have noted that the bill was imperfect and had been ‘hastily cobbled together’, just four months after the King's Speech.[3][2][4] However, this approach was expedient for the government as the coal mining industry was in a poor state following the war and the Labour government wished to show that their manifesto commitments were being implemented.[3]
The coal industry nationalisation was different to later enactments. The owners of coal mines and facilities were compensated with government stock; this demonstrated to the miners, who were powerful political force, that the industry belonged to the nation.[3] For later nationalisations compensation was by stock issued by the relevant board. This simplified the system as compensation was based in the market value of shares in the relevant undertaking.[3]
The Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946 received royal assent on 12 July 1946.[1] Its long title is ‘An Act to establish public ownership and control of the coal-mining industry and certain allied activities; and for purposes connected therewith.’
The provisions of the act comprise 65 sections in nine parts, plus four schedules.
The following acts amended elements of the 1946 act.
The Coal Industry Act 1949 (12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. 53) amended and repealed parts of the 1946 act including the composition of the National Coal Board; extended the area of relevant activities; and terminated contracts.
The Miners' Welfare Act 1952 (15 & 16 Geo. 6. & 1 Eliz. 2. c. 23) dissolved the Miners' Welfare Commission.
The Coal Industry Act 1956 (4 & 5 Eliz. 2. c. 61).
The Coal Industry Act 1965 (c. 82) made provision for borrowing by, and loans by the Minister of Power to, the National Coal Board.
The Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Act 1966 (c. 4) consolidated part I of the Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Act 1923 (13 & 14 Geo. 5. c. 20).
The Coal Industry Act 1971 (c. 16) extended the powers of the National Coal Board.
The Coal Industry Act 1977 (c. 39) amended the financial powers of the National Coal Board.
The Coal Industry Act 1987 (c. 3) changed the name of the National Coal Board to the British Coal Corporation.
The Coal Industry Act 1990 (c. 3) made new provision for grants by the Secretary of State to the British Coal Corporation.
The Coal Industry Act 1994 (c. 21) established the functions of a new body the Coal Authority; restructured the coal industry, transferred the property, rights and liabilities of the British Coal Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries; and made provision for the dissolution of the corporation; abolished the Domestic Coal Consumers’ Council.