GOOD news on the jobs front too – and, heaven knows, we could do with that nowadays.

More than 500 mining jobs are being safeguarded in the Selby area with a £50 million investment in new reserves at Kellingley mine and an important new contract for pit owners UK Coal. This year we have marked the 25th anniversary of the miners’ strike, which ushered in the end for many mines. So it is cheering to be able to report a mining success story.

Not everyone approves of coal today because of fears over climate change, but if the resource is still there and modern technology can help reduce harmful emissions, then surely we should still dig for coal.

Signs are that the Government thinks so too, and is investigating the future of new generation coal-fired power stations.