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
Email: [email protected]
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
Mark is a member of 4 committees
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Substitute Member
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Mark is a member of 9 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 Europe
Member
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
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Nordic Countries
Deputy 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 3 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Climate
Scottish Green Party
Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish Green Party
Party Spokesperson on Transport
Scottish Green Party
Previous roles
Mark has had 17 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
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
08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee
Member
16 September 2020 - 04 May 2021
COVID19 Committee
Member
29 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Substitute 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.
Here is the register for Mark Ruskell. The date of their initial statement was 02 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
Until May 2017 I was a local authority councillor for Stirling Council (of Old Viewforth, 14-20 Pitt Terrace, Stirling FK8 2ET). I worked 15 hours per week in this role. Until 15 May 2016, when my salary ceased, I received remuneration of between £15,001 and £20,000 per annum.
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
From 14 t o 16 August 2018 I travelled to Norway on a study visit to explore Deposit Return Schemes. The costs of the visit were approximately £689, £220 for hotel, £319 for flights and around £150 for meals, which were met by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation (a registered charity that funds the charitable work of organisations that are building an inclusive, creative and sustainable society of Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG).
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
I am an Honorary Associate Member of the British Veterinary Association.
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.
Chamber meeting date: 8 May 2024
Forestry and Land Scotland (Meetings)
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "Under the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, will large FLS land holdings be required to produce publicly accessible land management plans for consultation, thereby bringing much-needed scrutiny by communities and other stakeholders?"
Chamber meeting date: 8 May 2024
Wild Bees (Welfare)
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I declare an interest as a beekeeper, and I should also mention that I am the new species champion for the moss carder bee, which is one of Scotland’s rarest bee species. Too often, conservation funding is very time limited…
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 7 May 2024
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "Yes, thank you, convener…
Chamber meeting date: 2 May 2024
New Energy Infrastructure in the North of Scotland
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I thank Tess White for bringing to the chamber this important debate. Of course, it is not a new debate, and there are many lessons from history…
Chamber meeting date: 2 May 2024
Air Departure Tax (Short-haul Flights)
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "The latest report from the Government’s climate adviser is clear that there is no credible route to net zero without cutting unnecessary air miles…
Votes
How Mark Ruskell has voted in Parliament
Find out how Mark Ruskell has voted recently.
Appointment of Junior Scottish Minister
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 9, 2024
Result 63 for, 49 against, 10 abstained, 7 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Appointment of Scottish Minister
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 9, 2024
Result 63 for, 57 against, 3 abstained, 6 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Business Programme
Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Pam Gosal, Jamie Greene, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Graham Simpson, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Result 52 for, 68 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Implementing the Cass Review in Scotland
Submitted by: Neil Gray, Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Supported by: Jenni Minto, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Result 71 for, 30 against, 20 abstained, 8 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Supporting Scotland’s Colleges
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Supported by: Paul Sweeney, Martin Whitfield
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Result 60 for, 61 against, 0 abstained, 8 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Mark Ruskell in Parliament
Find out what motions Mark Ruskell has submitted recently.
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.
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 9 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23523 by Angela Constance on 11 December 2023, whether it will be publishing an evaluation report on Police Scotland’s pilot of the Digital Evidence Sharing Capability (DESC) Programme in Dundee."
Answer expected on 23 May 2024
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 9 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what recent correspondence it has had with Glasgow City Council regarding the impact of its Low Emission Zone (LEZ) scheme in reducing emissions from private car use and improving air quality levels."
Answer expected on 23 May 2024
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 25 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether SEPA has assessed any impact of flea and worm treatments used for companion animals on the environment."
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 8 May 2024
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 26 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any steps that sportscotland is taking to (a) assess the impact of artificial sports pitches on (i) the natural environment and (ii) human health and (b) identify long-term alternatives to artificial sports pitches."
Answered by Maree Todd on 8 May 2024
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 2 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a progress update on Scottish Water’s commitment to increasing monitoring levels of Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs)."
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 7 May 2024
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 25 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government when SEPA last met with the Pharmaceuticals in the Environment (PiE) cross-government group regarding fipronil and imidacloprid levels detected in UK surface waters, and what steps it is taking to reduce these levels in Scotland."
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 7 May 2024
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 3 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17938 by Kevin Stewart on 25 May 2023, whether it will provide an update on how many journeys have been completed by young people using a free bus pass through the Young Persons' (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme, based on the latest information available."
Answer expected on 20 May 2024
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 3 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on what percentage of greenhouse gas emissions was produced by private jets departing from and arriving at Scotland’s airports between 2018 and 2023."
Answer expected on 20 May 2024
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 2 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what its position is on introducing ticket levy schemes at large music venues in Scotland to support small and grassroots music venues."
Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 3 May 2024
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 2 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to decarbonising the heating of at least one million homes by 2030."
Answer expected on 17 May 2024