Bob Earll: Thanks to Rob Lawson for the heads up on this. There are also sections on Agriculture and Fisheries – questions 39-47: Commentary and a full list from the Independent – coverage & questions.

Rob Lawson: Labour’s 170 questions for David Davis were probably one of the better things the official opposition has done for the last few months.  They have a whole section on Environment and Climate Change – see below. There are also relevant points under Agriculture and Investment (i.e. the EIB which funds a lot of water infrastructure development). See here for full list http://labourlist.org/2016/10/labours-170-questions-for-david-davis-on-brexit/ I think the point in the linked piece re shared resources is particularly relevant for chalk streams and wetlands, which are common in the UK but globally rare.  They have received significant levels of protection under the Habitats Directive (and to a lesser extent the Birds Directive for estuaries).

The Environment and Climate Change

59. Will the government guarantee to maintain current environmental standards in relation to clean bathing water, the protection of rare birds, the protection of habitats threatened by major infrastructure projects, and the cleanliness of rivers and lakes?
60. Will the government guarantee that the status of the UK’s 652 Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas will remain legally-protected after Britain’s exit from the EU?
61. Will the government guarantee to make up any post-2020 shortfall in funding for flood defences and flood relief arising from Britain’s departure from the European Union, and loss of access to relevant EU funding programmes?
62. Will the government seek to remain a part of the EU Emissions Trading System, and if not, how will it replicate the impact that membership of the EU ETS has on the UK’s ability to comply with its legally binding carbon budgets?
63. Will the government ensure that the Paris Agreement on climate change, including the goal of net zero emissions, is ratified as quickly as possible to ensure that the EU is able to ratify the deal as a bloc prior to Britain’s exit from the European Union?
64. Will the government remain committed to meeting the requirements and achieving the targets set out in the 2030 EU Climate and Energy Framework, even after Britain leaves the EU?
65. Will the government seek to remain part of the European Union negotiating bloc for future negotiations on climate change, and if not, what bloc will it seek to join?
66. Will the government guarantee to implement the plans it has submitted to the European Commission to meet the EU-agreed limits on pollution levels in major conurbations, including London, Manchester and Leeds, regardless of Brexit?
67. What assessment has the government made on the impact of any departure from the Single Market on access to imports of natural gas and electricity, and by extension on: (i) the security of the UK’s energy supplies; and (ii) the UK’s carbon emission targets?
68. Is the government still committed to meet its renewable energy targets under the EU 2020 agreement, and if not, what alternative targets – if any – is it seeking to meet?
69. Will the UK remain part of the EU Energy Union after leaving the EU?
70. In the absence of the European Commission and the European Court of Justice, what entities will be responsible for ensuring that the government complies with its own environmental regulations, and for taking legal action against the government when it fails to do so?
71. 71. How does the government intend to make up the shortfall in current and future energy infrastructure investments, once EU investment in these projects (currently worth more than €2bn)