These records, wholly incoming and outgoing correspondence files, were created during the period when Marchand was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (1 January 1974 to 9 May 1974), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment (15 September 1974 to 14 September 1975) and Minister of State for Small Business (14 September 1976 to 15 September 1977).
The documents in this sub-series are two-way correspondence, incoming and outgoing. They demonstrate Marchand's interventions with other government departments on behalf of his constituents (he raises the matter with the appropriate department, right up to the ministerial level if necessary; he transmits the appropriate information and seeks clarification; he lobbies for support and redress / resolution when possible). At times the intervention ends with simply the provision of information to a constituent.
For example, under "Agriculture", the following matters come up: irrigation; sugar beet industry; export of livestock; land purchases; various governmental assistance programs (such as the Beef Cattle Stabilization Board); livestock breeding (ponies); animal diseases (such as Blue Tongue affecting cattle), and so on. On all these issues, the records demonstrate how government policy affects individuals and groups, how such policies change and evolve once found deficient - they give expression to the nexus at which government and citizen meet. They also demonstrate how an MP / Minister responds to constituents' needs. For example, following the outbreak of Blue Tongue, Marchand addressed the issue of measures to combat the disease, and compensation for affected individuals.
The sub-series is most marked in the following file clusters: Health and Welfare; Immigration; Indian Affairs; Manpower; and Revenue.
There are also many files in this sub-series which are operational / reference files for Marchand because they affect his constituents, such as Transport.