Coal interest

I have had enquiries about my interest in coal mining, and am
happy to make the following statement:

The following has been on my website since its inception:

“I have a financial interest in coal mining on my family's land.
The details are commercially confidential, but I have always been
careful to disclose that I have this interest in my writing when it
is relevant; I am proud that the coal mining on my land contributes
to the local and national economy; and that my income from coal is
not subsidized and not a drain on the economy through raising
energy prices. I deliberately do not argue directly for the
interests of the modern coal industry and I consistently champion
the development of gas reserves, which is a far bigger threat to
the coal-mining industry than renewable energy can ever be. So I
consistently argue against my own financial interest.”

In response to recent inaccurate reports, I can add further
detail:

“I have declared my interest in the coal mining on my family’s
land whenever and wherever relevant both in my writing and in
Parliament. However, I generally argue in favour of gas, which is
coal’s main competitor, and do not argue directly in favour of the
modern coal industry, though I have commented on the role coal has
played over the course of history. There is a long and proud
tradition of coal mining in the North-east of England. The coal
under my family’s land belongs to the state, being nationalized, so
royalties go to the government, not the landowner. Only part of the
coal mining operated by the Banks Group at the Shotton and Brenkley
mines is on my family’s land. I do not own or operate the mines
themselves. I consider the mining operation an excellent local
employer, which provides affordable energy to UK industry and
electricity consumers, without subsidy, and in a situation where
the UK imports the majority of the coal it burns. It also
contributes generous taxes as well as funding welcome environmental
benefits and numerous community projects. I receive no financial
benefit other than a wayleave fee in exchange for providing access
to the land. The details are commercially confidential and involve
several parties, but the wayleave is very small indeed in relation
to the value of the coal mined from my family’s land. It is partly
shared with local residents and the remainder, after paying tax, is
almost entirely reinvested in the maintenance and improvement of
the property. The coal industry has never tried to influence my
views on climate science or policy.”