These volumes provide a detailed record of the requests for clarification of Party policy received from Conservative Parliamentary Candidates during election campaigns. As described in a memorandum from Joseph Ball to Chamberlain dated 30th September 1931, “It has been the practice during recent General Elections for the Party to set up an ad hoc Committee, under the chairmanship of a senior Conservative politician, not himself actively engaged in the contest, to consider and answer from day to day the numerous questions on matters of policy which are invariably addressed by members, candidates, party workers, and others to Party Headquarters during the Election..…The Research Department has been created for the express purpose of investigating such matters of Party policy as the leaders have seen fit from time to time to refer to it.”