text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Post Office Closures - No suspension of compulsory closures during consultation
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  <p>The majority of MPs voted to reject the motion put forward by the Conservative Party:[1]</p>
  
  <blockquote>This House regrets the proposal to close up to 2,500 post offices; recognises the vital role post offices play in local communities; notes the concern and unpopularity amongst the general public of closing such a large portion of the network; has concerns that the access criteria laid down for the closures consultation do not adequately take into account local geographical factors and public transport networks; is concerned that the consultation period is only for six weeks rather than three months, as recommended by Cabinet Office guidelines; believes that post offices must move with the times in the services they offer and that options for business expansion and developing business opportunities with local authorities should be explored further; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to instruct Post Office Limited to suspend the compulsory closure of sub-post offices while these issues are re-assessed.</blockquote>
  
  <p>An alternative motion was proposed in the name of the Prime Minister and voted through in the following vote.[2]</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>[1] <a href="http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2008-03-19b.946.1#g946.3">Alan Duncan MP</a>, House of Commons, 19 March 2008</li>
  <li>[2] <a href="http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2008-03-19&number=132">Division 132</a>, House of Commons, 19 March 2008</li>
  </ul>
  
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  