I know that in Wales the higher disability related unemployment figures are partly due to the decline in industry - mining, steel etc. Many miners left with genuine long term health problems, and also mental health problems/depression resulting from the loss of the only type of work they were skilled for, economic decline and increased poverty in mining communities, loss of community identity and so on.

Excellent and very comprehensive diary, afew. I'll try to read through it in more detail once I get my next essay out of the way!

Ad astra per aspera