The following is a dictated transcript of the letter sent to MPs: Hubbard and his co-signatories write: We now know from extensive international research that children from unions other than marriage are much more likely to be the victims of abuse, murder, depression, lower educational achievement and poverty than those raised in a traditional heterosexual marriage. The Civil Unions Bill has provoked much debate in past days and we are writing to ask you to consider only one thing when you make your decision on the bill – what is best for our children. As disturbing as it is, we want to draw your attention to some tragic international statistics, all of which are the result of scientifically produced and verified studies (copies attached). Compelling examples are as follows: - children who are living with a solo parent are fourteen times more likely to be the subject of abuse than children in a traditional heterosexual marriage environment (R Whelan, UK, 1994) - children living with their mother who is cohabiting with a boyfriend are 73 times more likely to be the subject of fatal abuse than children in a traditional heterosexual marriage environment (R Whelan, UK, 1994) - children from families where parents have never married are four times more likely to be expelled from school (Wave 11 Study, 1996) Why are we rushing to pass legislation that undermines traditional marriage when we know the outcomes will be tragic for many of our children? Where is the drive coming from for this bill to be passed, and why the need for urgency? There is no clamour from the public for this legislation – and there is no clamour from our children. The evidence is overwhelming that non-traditional unions more often produce troubled children. Please don't gamble with the lives of our kids. If you support this Bill, we are asking you to reconsider for one reason only, for the children of New Zealand. In the attached presentation, we can see every time we move further away from “traditional marriage” we heavily stack the odds against a good future for our children. Our plea to you is to do the right thing for our children. The letter is co-signed by: John