The Social Need for Deep Coal Mining in Europe Should Be Re-Evaluated against Unreasonable Levels of Subsidies: UK DTI Statements on Miners' Health 1999/2000

In 1998 France, Germany, Spain and Turkey provided substantial subsidies for their coal industries. In Germany, production of 42 million tonnes was subsidised at a rate of $120 per tonne. These are listed in Table 1. In the UK, subsidies finished in March 1998 although the UK government will be involved in payments to ex-miners for some years yet.