times have changed, henryp- my annoyance was that GB figures are used when it favours England, a frequent deception by Westminster over the years.

To summarise- good English figures= English figures..... bad English figures= British figures!!!

   I think we agree it's good that coal is being phased out & that Holyrood has to base its future independence on something other than oil.
However both governments have still to find a proper replacement for the total loss of heavy industrrial jobs, the root of most of our present troubles.
On the subject of the thread, have you heard the Ed Pickford song 'The Tshirts and the blood' about the 84 strike- a fine version by Jim Sharp of Newcastle.