David Morris
MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale
Con
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Response classifications show how directly each question was answered.
It is very interesting that the Leader of the Opposition talks about keeping council tax low, when the Labour party voted to increase Morecambe Town Council expenditure from £200,000 historically to £2 million. On that basis, I would like to meet the Prime Minister to see if we can find Government time to discuss a cap on parish councils to stop them from this sort of abhorrent behaviour.
Context
The Labour party voted to increase Morecambe Town Council expenditure from £200,000 historically to £2 million.
Rishi Sunak
My hon. Friend is right to highlight that council tax in Labour areas is higher than that in Conservative areas, which is not right at a time when there are pressures on the cost of living. I look forward to meeting him to discuss his plans to keep British families' household bills as low as they can be.
Session: PMQs
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Prime Minister, when are we going to get Eden Project North?
Context
The Eden Project North has progressed through round 2 of the levelling-up fund and secured planning permission and land allocation.
Rishi Sunak
The Secretary of State will be making decisions by the end of the year regarding levelling-up fund bids.
Assessment
Providing a specific timeline or commitment for Eden Project North funding was avoided.
Session: PMQs
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This project has taken five years through three Prime Ministers and four Chancellors. We have full planning permission and are shovel-ready. Does my right hon. Friend agree that this is money well spent in Morecambe?
Context
The Eden Project North has been a long-standing campaign of the MP, spanning several government changes and now nearing approval for levelling-up bid.
Dominic Raab
There is no greater campaigner than my hon. Friend, but I cannot discuss specific bids details. The next round of funding allocations will be announced in autumn.
Assessment
The questioner's request for agreement on the investment being beneficial was not directly addressed with a commitment or confirmation.
I Cannot Discuss The Details Of Any Specific Bids.
Session: PMQs
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Will the Prime Minister visit the Eden Project site in Morecambe, which is part of an initiative to propagate goodwill around the world?
Context
The Eden Project aims to promote goodwill internationally. A programme has been proposed for teaching youngsters in Morecambe the international ethos of the Eden Project.
Boris Johnson
The Prime Minister affirms his intention to visit the Eden Project site at Morecambe as soon as possible, recognising progress made towards establishing an Eden Project there.
Session: PMQs
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Will the Under-Secretary of State come to Heysham to see EDF's new nuclear power programme that is coming to my constituency?
Context
The MP invites the Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero to visit Heysham nuclear power station in his constituency.
Graham Stuart
My hon. Friend is a stout champion not only of the pathway to net zero but also of jobs and prosperity; I accept on behalf of my hon. Friend the Minister.
Session: Net Zero Targets Businesses
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First, I thank the Secretary the State for the money for the Eden Project Morecambe; it has been gratefully received in Morecambe.
However, we have another problem that I would love to meet the Secretary of State to discuss. The town council or the parish council has raised the precept from £200,000 two years ago up to £1.5 million. Apparently, that is to buy a piece of land that is already owned by the public for a knock-down price of £1 million, when it was bought for £3 million. If that is not the case, the remaining money will go into a fund. As we both know, funds cannot be raised against what is already there, unless it is half. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss the issue as soon as possible?
However, we have another problem that I would love to meet the Secretary of State to discuss. The town council or the parish council has raised the precept from £200,000 two years ago up to £1.5 million. Apparently, that is to buy a piece of land that is already owned by the public for a knock-down price of £1 million, when it was bought for £3 million. If that is not the case, the remaining money will go into a fund. As we both know, funds cannot be raised against what is already there, unless it is half. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss the issue as soon as possible?
Context
The town or parish council in Morecambe raised the precept from £200,000 to £1.5 million for land purchase.
Michael Gove
We can definitely meet. I congratulate my hon. Friend on being reselected as the Conservative candidate for Morecambe and Lunesdale, with a unanimous vote. I look forward to him being re-elected as MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale.
Session: Topical Questions
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I thank the Chancellor for awarding Morecambe £50 million for the Eden project. Can my right hon. Friend meet me to discuss my formula for VAT tapering to help small businesses?
Context
The MP thanks the Chancellor for awarding £50 million to Morecambe for the Eden Project and asks about VAT tapering proposals.
Jeremy Hunt
First, I congratulate my hon. Friend on his campaigning for Eden Project North, which is a model for MPs standing up for their constituencies; he deserves huge congratulations. I will happily look at his proposals on VAT tapering. We already have the highest VAT threshold in the G7.
Session: Economy Impact of UK Withdrawal from EU
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When will decisions be made on the second phase of the levelling-up round so that we can get this project going?
Context
The Eden Project North has planning permission and land allocation for a shovel-ready scheme.
Felicity Buchan
Decisions on the second phase of the levelling-up round will be made by the end of the year, and I wish my hon. Friend well.
Session: Levelling-up Agenda
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I know that this Government are listening to the levelling-up agenda, especially in the north of England, and on that note I should like to suggest that the best way of getting people back into work is putting forward new initiatives. Will the Chancellor meet me shortly to talk about Eden Project North?
Context
There is a focus on the levelling-up agenda, especially initiatives in the north of England. The question arises from discussions about new projects that could aid employment.
Rishi Sunak
I should be very happy to.
Session: Topical Questions
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Could the Department for Transport give me some indication on its progress at this moment in time?
Context
The question arises from a perceived lack of transparency regarding the progress of the free port application for Heysham.
Rachel Maclean
Ports and local authorities are welcome to submit their bids for free ports, including for Heysham, until 5 February 2021, and specific locations will then be chosen according to a process, as set out in the bidding proposals.
Session: Hauliers End of Transition Period
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What support his Department is providing to hauliers in preparation for the end of the transition period?
Context
No specific background context provided, but the question pertains to support needed by hauliers as the UK exits its transition period from the EU.
Rachel Maclean
The Department is running a haulier readiness communications campaign and outreach programme, launching 45 information and advice sites, and producing a detailed haulier handbook, which has been translated into 13 languages.
Session: Hauliers End of Transition Period
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Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
Morecambe Town Council Precepts
17 January 2024
Responding: Simon Hoare
Main Concerns
["The MP is concerned about a 231% parish council tax increase in Morecambe, which is believed to be the highest such increase in Britain. The town council raised £1 million for a community fund without a referendum or proper consultation, and has spent £48,000 on architects' plans for a site not for sale. Additionally, there have been substantial legal costs due to challenges of end-of-year audits, leading to increased spending. The MP is concerned about the significant increase in Morecambe Town Council's precept, which rose by 231% last year to buy an asset that was later not pursued. He worries about transparency and accountability regarding how these funds are being used."]
Specific Asks
["The MP urges the Government to freeze council tax at pre-2023 levels and cap the rate at which parish councils can increase their precept without requiring a referendum. He also calls for an investigation by external auditors into parish councils' practices. The MP asks the Government to investigate the situation and ensure that any surplus money from a specific-purpose precept is returned to taxpayers or frozen for future use."]
Parish and Town Council Precepts
18 April 2023
Responding: Lee Rowley
Main Concerns
['The MP is concerned about the huge parish council tax rise inflicted on his constituents in Morecambe, reportedly between 231% to 237%, which he believes is the highest increase in Britain. He highlights issues such as a rushed budget vote without full papers provided, plans to buy taxpayer-owned land for a community centre despite it not being for sale, and inflated costs for unnecessary projects like architectural fees. The MP also raises concerns about financial misappropriation, including accusations of impropriety from previous audits, and the high salaries of town council officers relative to their services provided.']
Specific Asks
['The MP calls for a Government taskforce to investigate this matter urgently to ascertain whether the conduct of Morecambe Town Council is fit and proper and legally compliant.']
Electronics Technology Skills: North Lancashire
29 March 2023
Responding: Robert Halfon
Main Concerns
["The Member of Parliament for Morecambe and Lunesdale highlighted the need for practical electronics skills in graduates to make them work-ready. He mentioned a shortage of radio frequency/analogue electronic skills and software development skills, such as proficiency with C and C++. Businesses have formed 'electech clusters' to address these gaps and are collaborating closely with educational institutions like Lancaster and Morecambe College to create relevant training programs and labs for students."]
Specific Asks
['The MP asked the Government to incorporate practical workplace skills into electronics qualifications. He requested more incentives for businesses to train new staff in this discipline and urged the government to promote electronics as a career, encouraging more people to enter the workforce in this sector.']
Great British Railways Headquarters: Carnforth Bid
08 March 2022
Responding: Wendy Morton
Main Concerns
['I am concerned about the bid for Carnforth to become the headquarters for Great British Railways. The community has unanimously supported this bid, and a petition with over 500 names was compiled by Lancaster Civic Vision. Carnforth is centrally placed in the UK and offers excellent connectivity via rail and road to all cardinal points, including access to Manchester airport and Heysham Port for links to the Isle of Man and Ireland. The town has extensive railway heritage and facilities to host the new headquarters, including hotels, a prestigious Eden Project nearby, and electric charging points promoting low-carbon transport.']
Specific Asks
["I ask the government to consider Carnforth's bid due to its unique location, connectivity, and support from local councils. The town offers ample sites for building a new office block and provides quality employment opportunities along with excellent tourism benefits."]
Eden North: Benefits for Lancashire
22 September 2021
Responding: Eddie Hughes
Main Concerns
["David Morris is concerned about the economic decline of coastal communities in Britain since the 1970s. He highlights the need for projects that can deliver sustainable growth, particularly after the challenges brought by the pandemic. Morris emphasises that Eden Project North has gone through planning and already attracted significant investment from local government spending. He notes that an initial £105 million investment in Cornwall's Eden Project resulted in over £2.2 billion for the regional economy. Morris also mentions the project's potential to boost education, training, and green-collar jobs across the north-west."]
Specific Asks
["Morris asks the Government to confirm which funds have been earmarked to enable schemes that drive levelling up, particularly concerning Eden Project North. He seeks reassurance that Morecambe will not be forgotten in the Government's efforts to level up and requests a commitment of £70 million for the project."]
Injury in Service Award 2025-11-20
20 November 2025
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The debate seeks to acknowledge the risks faced by police officers, firefighters, paramedics and other emergency service personnel; recognises catastrophic injuries suffered in public service with ina...
Economy, Welfare and Public Services
22 July 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Informs the House that Mr Speaker has selected amendment (h), tabled by the Leader of the Opposition.
Funding for Canals
09 November 2023
Adjournment Debate
Led by this MP
The MP highlighted the need to restore the historic canal system called the Northern Reaches, which links Preston, Lancaster, Kendal, and the Lune Estuary. He emphasised the project's significance in ...
New Hospitals
25 May 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Economic Update
17 October 2022
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Tributes to Her Late Majesty the Queen
10 September 2022
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Easter Recess: Government Update
19 April 2022
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Energy Security Strategy
19 April 2022
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Global Migration Challenge
19 April 2022
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Levelling Up
02 February 2022
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
4
PMQs Asked
7
Ministerial Questions Asked
30
House of Commons Debates Involved
5
Westminster Hall Debates Led
0
Statements / Bills
0
Petitions Presented
0
Voting Record
Activity Compared to Peers
How does this MP's parliamentary activity compare to the national average across 1457 MPs?
Prime Minister's Questions
+9% above average
This MP:
4
Average:
3.7
Ministerial Questions
-48% below average
This MP:
7
Average:
13.4
Westminster Hall Debates Led
+99% above average
This MP:
5
Average:
2.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+517% above average
This MP:
30
Average:
4.9
Statements / Bills Proposed
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
9.5
Petitions Presented
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
2.5
Voting Attendance Rate (%)
-100% below average
This MP:
0.0
Average:
69.2
Important Context
- - Ministers answer questions rather than asking them, so have different activity patterns
- - Activity quantity doesn't measure quality or effectiveness of representation
- - Some MPs focus more on constituency work than parliamentary questions
- - Newly elected MPs will have less parliamentary history
About This Page
This page tracks David Morris's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.