Constituents are concerned about MPs supportive of the Civil Union bill, according to NZ First leader Winston Peters. During Question Time in Parliament this week, Peters asked whether the Government had received any reports or advice on the progress of the bill, as his office had been contacted by “concerned constituents” about “declarations from members of Parliament”, before quoting National leader Don Brash's statement that he would be supportive of the bill. “I have to say I am extraordinarily comfortable with the Leader of the Opposition's position on this,” Dr Michael Cullen replied. United Future MP Gordon Copeland tried to score some free publicity for the party's anti-gay advertisements by asking facetiously whether Cullen had “seen any media reports or advertisements that stem from parties in this House expressing their opposition to the introduction of the civil union bill; if so, what parties were they?” “This vote—certainly, on the part of some parties—is a conscience vote. I think that is certainly true of both the National and Labour parties. No doubt there are members on both sides of that issue,” Cullen replied. “Of course, we know that there are some members on both sides of the underlying issue, but we will not go into that too closely. I understand that United Future will be taking a party position opposing the bill."