16 MARCH 1974, Page 5

Sir: Perhaps one ought not to be surprised, but Mr

Clive Jenkins' reference to coal (in his review of Innis MacBeath's book on the Unions) as being a 'cheap fuel' is yet another instance of the slipshod thinking which seems to occur whenever the topic of coal-mining comes up.

Coal, sir, may be cheap coal; it is definitely not cheap fuel, and, I would ask, who, but for the penal taxation on oil, in his right mind would have chosen to buy coal?

Furthermore, I submit, if coal is given yet more shelter against economic reality at the expense of research and development of non-fossil fuels, it will prove to be a very expenjive commodity indeed.

G. Dennison 5 River Terrace, Thames Street, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex