text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Post Office Closures - Suspend for issues to be re-assessed - rejected
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  
  
  The majority of MPs voted to reject the motion put forward by the Conservative Party:[1]
  
  ** 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.
  
  An alternative motion was proposed and voted through in the following vote.[2]  
  
  Half of the rebels were absent in the second vote, which included two loyal Labour voters, Ian Cawsey and Julie Morgan, who did not appear in this first division.[3]  The BBC listed only those who voted against the Government.[4]
  
  
  *[1] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2008-03-19b.946.1#g946.3 Alan Duncan MP], House of Commons, 19 March 2008
  *[2] [http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2008-03-19&number=132 Post Office Closures - Commends the Government's action], House of Commons, 19 March 2008
  *[3] [http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2008-03-19&number=131&number2=132] Comparison of Division 131 to 132], House of Commons, 19 March 2008
  *[4] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7303968.stm Post vote slashes Labour majority], BBC News, 19 March 2008.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  