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

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.

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).

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

Mainly open; some items closed

Deposited by Alfred Morris in April and August 1997.

Online catalogue available

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

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

No further accruals expected.