The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 2361 contributions
Meeting of the Parliament
Meeting date: 9 November 2022
Mark Ruskell
Will the member take an intervention?
Meeting of the Parliament
Meeting date: 9 November 2022
Mark Ruskell
Will the member give way?
Meeting of the Parliament
Meeting date: 9 November 2022
Mark Ruskell
As a member for North East Scotland and a member of the Labour and Co-operative Party, does the member back the Scottish Government’s move to take the Glenprosen estate into public ownership?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 8 November 2022
Mark Ruskell
Martin Johnson, you work with many sectors, including rapidly growing sectors such as offshore wind. What is your perspective on how we create the space for such development?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 8 November 2022
Mark Ruskell
I have another couple of questions, which I will wrap together for the sake of time. First, what are your thoughts on the fare structure for commercial businesses and how that could be reformed? Secondly, how could the responsiveness of ferry operators—not just CalMac, but others too—be improved? Can you point us to any good practice?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 8 November 2022
Mark Ruskell
Do you see a need or responsibility for business sectors to manage travel demand while, at the same time, focusing on business growth and productivity? I was struck by what Peter Clark said earlier around the fact that development of maturation facilities on Islay might be one way to reduce travel and freight transport demand. I was also struck by what Rob Dickson—I think—said about the growing phenomenon of people taking two or three cars to the islands on holiday with them. Can each of you offer some thoughts on whether it is the responsibility of Government to meet endless demand or whether we could manage that demand in a smarter way?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 8 November 2022
Mark Ruskell
What about waste, such as draff and so on?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 8 November 2022
Mark Ruskell
Is there a way to square that? Could processing or infrastructure investments make things more circular?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 3 November 2022
Mark Ruskell
Sadly, around the world there are continuing wars, oppression and climate breakdown, and refugees are coming here from many different communities and different cultures. Different refugee communities have developed in Scotland in recent years, particularly from Syria and Afghanistan. Has there been any dialogue or shared learning with those communities and the approaches that have been taken to preserve, develop and integrate their culture in Scotland?
I have also been struck by some of the work that the Scottish Refugee Council has done with a number of those communities, and I was also struck by what Professor Sharkey said about the diversity of the conservatoire and people with very different backgrounds, histories and cultures coming together. Does anyone have any reflections on how that work has developed? Have you been aware of it? Have you linked it into it, learned from it or contributed to it?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 3 November 2022
Mark Ruskell
It has been an excellent evidence session. I have learned a lot and I think that the points about partnership are very well made.
I had a lingering thought about Eurovision being hosted in Liverpool—sadly; nevertheless, it is in the UK—and whether you see that as an opportunity or entry point, particularly for young people in this country, to get a sense of Ukrainian popular culture. They might subsequently become curious about other aspects of Ukrainian culture, and that could be investigated and followed up.