Commenting on the development, Mr Weir said:

"The Labour Government have displayed extraordinary cynicism over the future of the post office network. News that the Gordon Brown's Government is now set to defer the closure process in England until after the local election, shows what a complete sham this whole exercise is.

"This puts a lie to the claim by the Government that the consultation process is being operated by Post Office Ltd and is free from political interference. The UK government can, and do, interfere in the process when it suits them."

"It is clearly unfair that post office's south of the border have been given a stay of execution, while those in Scotland will be rushed through on a completely inadequate timetable.

"This is a double blow given that campaigners in Glasgow have been told that if a post office is saved by a local campaign then another in the area will simply be targeted instead. Ministers must step in and stop this nonsense now.

"The whole consultation process, right across the network, should now be suspended. Local communities and authorities must have a fair chance to challenge the proposals over the future of this essential local service."

ENDS

A transcript of Mr Weir's exchange with the Postal Affairs Minister, Pat McFadden, is detailed below:

Mike Weir MP: "Post Office Ltd has made clear to campaigners in Scotland that if a Post Office is saved after a local campaign, then another Post Office in the same area will simply close instead. Will this not pit community against community, and does it not demonstrate that the whole consultation process is a sham, and confirm that Post Office Ltd has engaged simply in an exercise to cut the network - an exercise, incidentally, that is pressing ahead in Scotland despite reports in many areas of England that the process has been put back until after the local elections in May."

Pat McFadden MP: "Mr Speaker, the announcement on 17th May made clear that the size of the network would have to reduce, there is no secrecy about this. The local consultation process that he referred to is how this will be done. It is true that the network must reduce in size, and this is accepted by the Federation of Sub-Post Masters, and is also accepted by most witnesses to the Trade and Industry Select Committee when they examined this issue."