To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord De Mauley on 15 October 2012 (WA 449), in which he stated that an announcement of a public inquiry into the proposals to extend the boundaries of the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks was "imminent", what is the cause of the further delay since that Answer; and when the announcement can be expected.

Since my previous response on this issue, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has secured the services of an experienced inquiry manager, who is working closely with both Defra and the inspector for the inquiry to finalise the necessary practical arrangements.

Once these arrangements are confirmed, the Secretary of State will issue a Written Ministerial Statement announcing the inquiry. I fully expect this to be within the next month.