In view of the abundant resources of coal in the United Kingdom, it was natural that at the time immediately following the first oil shock in 1973 certain hopes were pinned on coal: that coal usage would recover enabling the country to reduce its high reliance on oil. With the benefit of hindsight it is clear by now that whilst the importance of oil in our energy supplies has indeed been reduced, it was not primarily due to any resurgence of the demand for coal. The production and consumption of coal have continued to decline.