MORRIS, Alfred, b 1928, Baron Morris of Manchester, Labour politician

Scope and Content

Papers of Alfred Morris, Baron Morris of Manchester and Labour politician, 1965-1997. Comprises material relating to Morris' work for disabled people; papers relating to Morris' wider work as a Member of Parliament and to his Wythenshawe Constituency and Manchester; papers concerning Labour Party issues, the Co-operative movement and other organisations and institutions.

Administrative / Biographical History

Born 1928; educated Ruskin College and St Catherine's College, Oxford University, and the University of Manchester; former schoolmaster and university lecturer; parliamentary candidate (Labour & Co-op), Liverpool Garston 1951; Labour MP, Manchester Wythenshawe 1964-1997; Private Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1964-1967, and the Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons 1968-1970; Member, General Advisory Council of the BBC, 1968-1974 and 1983-1997; Chairman, Parliamentary Labour Party Food and Agriculture Group 1971-1974 (vice chm 1970-1971); Britain's first minister for the disabled 1974-1979; Chairman, World Planning Group (appointed to draft Charter for the 1980s for disabled people worldwide) 1979-1980; Opposition front bench spokesman on social services 1970-1974 and 1979-1981, and for the disabled, 1981-1992; Chairman, Co-operative Parliamentary Group, 1982-1984; Chairman, Anzac Group of MPs and Peers, 1982-1997 (President 1997-); Joint Treasurer, British-American Parliamentary Group 1983-1997; piloted Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act (1970) through Parliament as a private member, also the Food and Drugs (Milk) Act (1970) and the Police Act (1972); first recipient of Field Marshal Lord Harding Award for distinguished service to the disabled, 1971; Louis Braille Memorial Award for outstanding services to the blind, 1972; Trustee, Crisis at Christmas and Earl Snowdon's Fund for Handicapped Students; Chairman, Managing Trustees of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Scheme, and the House of Commons Members' Fund 1983-1997; appointed to Select Committee on Privileges, 1994-1997; President, Co-op Congress 1995; President, Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists 1998; Chairman, Haemophilia Society, 1999. Publications: The growth of Parliamentary scrutiny by Committee (Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1970); Needs before means: an exposition of the underlying purposes of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970 (Co-operative Union, Manchester, 1971); No feet to drag: report on the disabled (Sidgwick and Jackson, London, 1972).

Arrangement

Organised by subject into seven series. Some overlaps occur. Series 1 - Papers relating to Morris' work with and for disabled people. Includes: Parliamentary business, foreign visits and international work, conferences and awards ceremonies, various general papers, reference material Series 2 - Papers relating to Morris' work as a Member of Parliament. Includes: Legislative material, Parliamentary debates, campaigns, various general papers Series 3 - Papers relating to Morris' Wythenshawe Constituency and the Manchester area as a whole Includes: Local Labour Party information, correspondents with constituents, the proposed development of Manchester Airport, various political campaigns Series 4 - Papers relating mainly to the Parliamentary Labour Party, but also to other more general Labour Party issues. Series 5 - Papers relating to the Co-operative Party, the Co-operative Society and the wider Co-operative Movement. Series 6 - Various correspondence. Series 7 - Papers relating to institutions and organisations with connections to Morris. Includes:papers relating to: Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament National Osteoporosis Society Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Menzies School of Health Research, Australia

Conditions Governing Access

Mainly open; some items closed

Conditions Governing Use

Most items can be photocopied, subject to handling and copyright restrictions.

Acquisition Information

Deposited by Alfred Morris in April and August 1997.

Accruals

No further accruals expected.

Archivist's Note

Sources: Who's Who 1897-1996 (A & C Black, 1996); British Library On-Line Public Access Catalogue 97. Catalogued by Frank Bowles

Other Finding Aid

Online catalogue available

Subjects
Airports
Disabled persons
Disadvantaged groups
Government
Health services
Internal politics
Management operations
Parliament
Policy making
Political science
Politics
Social policy
Transport infrastructure
Personal Names
Morris Alfred b 1928 Baron Morris of Manchester, Labour politician
Corporate Names
Co-operative Society
House of Commons
Labour Party
Geographical Names
Manchester Lancashire England
Ringway Cheshire England
Stansted Essex England
London England