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 at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6468
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at their Constituency
67A King Street
Stirling
FK8 1BN
Phone: 01786 448 203
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Committees
Mark is a member of 4 committees
COVID-19 Committee
Member
Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee
Substitute Member
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Mark is a member of 9 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Cycling, Walking and Buses
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Food
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on International Development
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Lung Health
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Nordic Countries
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Nuclear Disarmament
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Rail
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Rural Policy
Co-Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Mark has 1 parliamentary and government role
Scottish Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund
Trustee
Party Roles
Mark has 3 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Climate Change
Scottish Green Party
Party Spokesperson on Rural Economy
Scottish Green Party
Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish Green Party
Previous roles
Mark has had 9 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
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 June 2006 - 02 April 2007
Environment and Rural Development Committee
Substitute Member
28 May 2003 - 02 April 2007
Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish Green Party
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 2016.
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. [Amended interest 28 October 2017]
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
From 14 to 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). [Registered 28 September 2018]
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. [Registered 28 October 2017]
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 28 October 2018]
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.
Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee meeting date: 25 January 2021
Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 [Draft]
Mark Ruskell: "It is good to hear the answer to that last question. The information sharing needs to be seamless. I will ask about bringing forward the regulations…
Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee meeting date: 25 January 2021
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I welcome the minister to his new portfolio. I have a couple of questions about public accessibility of the new register. You will have seen from evidence that we have taken that people have a real desire to access the information…
Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee meeting date: 25 January 2021
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2020 (SI 2020/1557)
Mark Ruskell: "The United Kingdom emissions trading scheme is a long-running saga, and another instrument has come forward to put it into place…
Chamber meeting date: 21 January 2021
Place-based Economic Development Zones
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "Simply renaming free ports “green ports” does not guard against the race to the bottom in standards. In its submission to the survey, Forth Ports identified a new gas-fired power—Inaudible.—as a key net zero project. Will the minister—Inaudible…
Chamber meeting date: 21 January 2021
Rural Economy (Impact of European Union Exit)
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "Delays to exports of fresh produce have led to growing concern about mountains of food waste…
Votes
How Mark Ruskell has voted in Parliament
Find out how Mark Ruskell has voted recently.
Post-mortem Examinations (Defence Time Limit) (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Gil Paterson, Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Result 26 for, 90 against, 1 abstained, 12 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Culpable Homicide (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, January 21, 2021
Result 26 for, 89 against, 0 abstained, 14 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Result 96 for, 5 against, 18 abstained, 10 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Result 100 for, 1 against, 21 abstained, 7 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Result 118 for, 1 against, 2 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Mark Ruskell in Parliament
Find out what motions Mark Ruskell has submitted recently.
Written questions
Written questions Mark Ruskell has submitted in Parliament
These are the questions that this MSP has asked the Scottish Government about its work. It also includes any answer to these questions.
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 18 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed update to fire alarm regulations take account of alarm scrappage and recycling."
Answered by: Kevin Stewart on 25 January 2021
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 22 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government how much it allocated to the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) elements (a) Area-based Schemes, (b) Loans and Cashback, (c) Warmer Homes Scotland and (d) Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency Advice and Support in 2020-21."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 22 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the mechanical harvest of seaweed might have on kelp beds, and what work it has commissioned on this."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 22 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government when it last carried out a review of the health of kelp beds."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 13 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of providing naloxone for frontline police officers to respond to suspected overdoses."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 14 December 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what the condition is of each feature on designated sites in the Cairngorms National Park and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, broken down by whether they are the responsibility of a public body."
Answered by: Ben Macpherson on 11 January 2021
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 8 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-28898 and S5W-29681 by Joe FitzPatrick on 15 May and 18 June 2020 respectively, in light of it currently waiting for a needs assessment review, a Scottish Health Council lived experience report and NHS Information Services data, and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport's…
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 8 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-28898 and S5W-29681 by Joe FitzPatrick on 15 May and 18 June 2020 respectively, whether the National Neurological Framework is the mode for delivering services to people with ME; which neurology departments currently offer services to people with ME, and what assurances it can…
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 21 December 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31967 by Clare Haughey on 5 October 2020, whether (a) the funded training of additional psychological therapists is available to NHS staff only, (b) it is funding training in (i) clinical and (ii) applied psychology for people who do not work in the NHS, and (c) it is funding…
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 9 December 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33328 by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 December 2020, whether NatureScot will publish its monitoring programme that led it to conclude that “there is little evidence to show that gamebirds are causing damage to European sites in Scotland”."
Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham on 18 December 2020
See all of Mark Ruskell's written questions submitted in Parliament