16. To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his most recent estimate is of the amount of land designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty in West Sussex which will be excluded from the proposed South Downs National Park boundaries. (247643)

The final Inspector's Report, in respect of the re-opened inquiry, was received on 28 November. We are carefully considering it in detail, as you would expect.

At this stage it would not be appropriate to anticipate any decision on the creation of a park, or the extent of any park that may result.