Department of Energy and successors: Coal Division: Registered Files

This series consists of the registered files of the Coal Division of the Department of Energy, and from 1992, the Coal Division of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The records relate to the reduction in size of the British coal industry, pit closures in the 1980s and the industry's privatisation during the first half of the 1990s. With the passing of the Coal Industry Act 1994, the industry-wide administrative functions of British Coal were transferred to a new Coal Authority. Its economic assets were privatised, with the English mining operations being merged with RJB Mining to form UK Coal PLC. Particular aspects covered in the records include:

(I) aid, regeneration and various business enterprise schemes to support areas affected;

(ii) subsidence issues;

(iii) compensation payments inherited by DTI from the British Coal Corporation;

(iv) the work of the National Coal Board and its successors;

(v) the legislation that was progressed in order to facilitate the privatisation of the industry and the issues arising from it; and

(vi) redundancy, pensions, super annulation and the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (TUPE).

In former reference order by prefix.

See also records of the National Coard Board in COAL

Records of the Department of Trade and Industry (1970-1974) Coal Division are in FV 38

Unregistered papers of the Coal Division are in NK 135

Records of the Ministry of Power Coal Division are in POWE 16

See also records of the Coal Authority in KD

• Department of Energy, Coal Division, 1974-1992
• Department of Trade and Industry, 1983-2007
• Department of Trade and Industry, Coal Division, 1970-1974
• Department of Trade and Industry, Coal Division, 1992-1996
• Department of Trade and Industry, Energy Policy Technology Analysis and Coal (EPTAC 5 (a,b,c)), 1992-1999

In 2026 Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

In 2015 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Topics

Trade and commerce

Coal

Mining and quarrying

The Coal Division initially existed in the first Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) from 1970 to 1974. The division was transferred into the newly established Department of Energy in 1974. The C prefix was used by the Coal Division of the Department of Energy from 1982 to 1992. C prefix records show that during that period the division dealt with many general aspects of the coal industry.

On the abolition of the Department of Energy in April 1992, Coal Division was transferred to the second Department of Trade and Industry (1992-2007).

In 1992 the DTI functional directory showed that the functions of the division were focussed on the plans for privatisation of the coal industry, although general matters such as coal industry employment, environment, planning, pay and industrial relations were also covered. Prefixes CDA and CDC were created at this time, specifically by Coal Division Branch 1 and Branch 2. Branch 1 consisted of three units: a - BBC Financing; b - Coal Privatisation; and c - Coal Privatisation Pensions. Branch 2 worked on coal privatisation; licensing and regulatory regime; coal authority; and coal industry employment and sponsorship. These Branches worked on prefixes CDA and CDC until 1996.

The CPU prefix was also set up in 1992 and was initially used by the separate Coal Privatisation Unit until 1994, when it merged with the Coal Division to form COAL 4/CPU.

By 1995 the DTI functional directory described the overall Coal Division as responsible for the sponsorship of the coal industry in the UK. The various aspects covered included many arising from the privatisation of the industry under the Coal Industry Act 1994.

In 1999, following a restructure within DTI, the Coal Division came to form part of Energy Policy Technology Analysis and Coal (EPTAC). All the prefixes came to be used specifically by EPTAC Branch 5 and EPTAC Branch 6a. Branch 5 consisted of three units: a - Coal Finance; b - Coal Pensions and Residual Privatisation Issues; and c - Coal Sponsorship. Branch 6a was the Coal Health Claims Unit.