Yes they said there was no market for coal and it was tuppence a ton from abroad, turns out we cannot import enough and they are opening not closing mines. We paid fortunes to make miners redundant, then kept them on the dole, now we dont have enough coal. If the railways had remained state run alot of people may still be alive today. The far east produces cheap low quality goods its true, but we can compete by providing quality. As wages and aspirations of the workers in these countries increase we will find a more level playing field.