[2] The Coal Industry Nationalisation Bill was published in December 1945 by the Minister of Fuel and Power, Emanuel Shinwell, and got passed through the House of Commons by his Parliamentary Secretary Hugh Gaitskell.

Several commentators have noted that the bill was imperfect and had been 'hastily cobbled together', just four months after the King's Speech.

The owners of coal mines and facilities were compensated with government stock; this demonstrated to the miners, who were powerful political force, that the industry belonged to the nation.

[3] The Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946 received royal assent on 12 July 1946.

[1] Its long title is 'An Act to establish public ownership and control of the coal-mining industry and certain allied activities; and for purposes connected therewith.'

6. c. 53) amended and repealed parts of the 1946 act including the composition of the National Coal Board; extended the area of relevant activities; and terminated contracts.