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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Mark Ruskell

Scottish Green Party

MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife (Region) 2016 - present day

Former MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife (Region) 2003 - 2007

About Mark Ruskell

Contact details

Contact online

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 6468
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

Unit 23
Stirling Business Centre
Wellgreen
Stirling
FK8 2DZ

Phone: 01786 448 203
Text relay calls welcome.

Committees

Cross-party groups

Mark is a member of 7 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Autism

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Circular Economy

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Lung Health

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Migration

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Nature and Climate

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sustainable Transport

Deputy Convener

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Mark has 1 parliamentary and government role

Scottish Commission For Public Audit

Member

Party Roles

Mark has 2 party roles

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Green Party

Party Spokesperson on Transport

Scottish Green Party

Previous roles

Mark has had 20 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

21 May 2021 - 01 July 2024

Party Spokesperson on Climate

Scottish Green Party

29 November 2023 - 26 June 2024

Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Substitute Member

08 September 2021 - 26 June 2024

Constitution Europe External Affairs and Culture Committee

Member

14 June 2017 - 09 March 2022

Scottish Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund

Trustee

26 May 2016 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Climate Change

Scottish Green Party

26 May 2016 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Green Party

26 May 2016 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Rural Economy

Scottish Green Party

29 June 2016 - 04 May 2021

Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Substitute Member

08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021

Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee

Member

16 September 2020 - 04 May 2021

COVID19 Committee

Member

06 September 2018 - 04 May 2021

Economy Energy and Fair Work Committee

Substitute Member

13 September 2018 - 16 September 2020

Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Deputy Convener

04 September 2018 - 13 September 2018

Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Member

29 June 2016 - 06 September 2018

Economy Jobs and Fair Work Committee

Substitute Member

21 June 2005 - 02 April 2007

Party Spokesperson on Fisheries

Scottish Green Party

28 May 2003 - 02 April 2007

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Green Party

28 June 2006 - 02 April 2007

Environment and Rural Development Committee

Substitute Member

09 September 2004 - 07 June 2006

Environment and Rural Development Committee

Deputy Convener

30 June 2004 - 09 September 2004

Environment and Rural Development Committee

Member

03 September 2003 - 30 June 2004

Environment and Rural Development Committee

Substitute Member

Register of interests

Mark's register of interests

MSPs must provide details of their financial interests in the Register of Interests. They make an initial statement on becoming or being returned as an MSP. This is then updated with any changes they provide.

Recent Activity

What was said

What Mark Ruskell has said in Parliament

These are the official transcripts of what was said by this MSP in the chamber and at committee meetings. You'll find the topic discussed and how many times this MSP has contributed to the discussion.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 18 February 2025

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "We have had evidence from the Scottish Land Commission and a lot of stakeholders that focuses on the thresholds in the bill and where to draw the line…

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 18 February 2025

Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2025

Mark Ruskell: "I have a concern about the process that the new regulations have gone through. As I understand it, we are signed up to an international convention on these “forever chemicals”…

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 18 February 2025

Appointment of the Chair of Environmental Standards Scotland

Mark Ruskell: "I was struck by your initial comments, Richard, about the big challenges in making sure that there is a climate change plan that delivers for Scotland’s potential role under the proposed natural environment bill and around unanswered questions about environmental governance. However, there is a whole range of other issues as well. You mentioned…

Chamber meeting date: 6 February 2025

Great British Energy Bill

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "Scottish Greens will back the legislative consent motion at decision time, but I want to sound a note of caution, because we have come through a period in which devolution in Scotland and Wales faced unprecedented attacks from the previous Westminster Government. Intergovernmental ways of working in the UK are still largely based on precedent and…

Chamber meeting date: 5 February 2025

Local Libraries

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I thank those members who signed my motion to bring the debate to the chamber. I am sure that members will wish to thank the communities that have fought so hard to save our libraries, and to thank librarians for their tireless work…

Votes

How Mark Ruskell has voted in Parliament

Find out how Mark Ruskell has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-16526

Great British Energy Bill - UK Legislation

Submitted by: Alasdair Allan, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 20, 2025

Result 84 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16532.2

Independent Review of Sentencing and Penal Policy

Submitted by: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 20, 2025

Result 16 for, 97 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-16532

Independent Review of Sentencing and Penal Policy

Submitted by: Angela Constance, Almond Valley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 20, 2025

Result 70 for, 42 against, 1 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16532.1

Independent Review of Sentencing and Penal Policy

Submitted by: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 20, 2025

Result 28 for, 69 against, 14 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-16531

Scottish Rate Resolution

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 20, 2025

Result 86 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motions

Questions

Questions Mark Ruskell has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question ref. S6W-34989

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 18 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether NatureScot will release the notes of (a) meetings and (b) any other discussions it has had with Scottish Land and Estates to discuss grouse shoot licensing."

Answer expected on 4 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-34988

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 18 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) meetings and (b) other discussions NatureScot and Scottish Land and Estates have held to discuss (i) the legal opinions regarding the wording of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 and (ii) what land should be included in a 16AA licence to shoot grouse."

Answer expected on 4 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-34990

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 18 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) meetings and (b) other discussions took place between ministers and/or its officials with NatureScot in advance of the agency introducing new guidance related to “area of land” and new conditions to 16AA licences; whether these changes were approved and, if so, (i) by whom and (ii) when."

Answer expected on 4 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-34987

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 18 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason NatureScot reportedly did not invite each of the groups involved in the development of the Grouse Code of Practice to (a) meetings and (a) engage in consultation with it to discuss grouse licence conditions."

Answer expected on 4 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-34938

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 13 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many train (a) arrivals and (b) departures there have been at (i) Cameron Bridge and (ii) Leven rail station each month since June 2024."

Answer expected on 13 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-33994

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 24 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08334 by Tom Arthur on 17 May 2022, for what reason amendments to permitted development rights for private ways, known as hill tracks, were not included in phase 3 of the permitted development rights review, and what plans it has for ensuring that there is consultation on…

Answered by Ivan McKee on 3 February 2025

Question ref. S6O-04256

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 22 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the culture secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the potential impact on the provision of library services in Mid-Scotland and Fife of the proposed local government settlement for 2025-26."

Taken in the Chamber on 29 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32259

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 12 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated in its draft Budget 2025-26 for (a) the Active Travel Infrastructure Fund, (b) Places for Everyone projects, (c) the National Cycle Network, (d) People and Place projects, (e) regional transport partnerships and (f) Bikeability Scotland."

Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 21 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32793

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 3 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) NatureScot and (b) other relevant stakeholders about varying licence conditions for bird ringing, in relation to schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, to require prior landowner notification."

Answered by Alasdair Allan on 20 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32795

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 3 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on applying a cap to fishing activity in inshore waters, of up to three nautical miles, that will limit activity to current levels and set a ceiling from which activities that disrupt the seabed can be reduced."

Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 17 January 2025

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