Mark Ruskell MSP

That the Parliament recognises National Meadows Day; understands that the day celebrates the beauty and biodiversity of wildflower meadows, while also drawing attention to their loss and vulnerability; notes the importance of maintaining and expanding meadows in tackling the climate emergency; supports Plantlife Scotland’s call for current environmental standards to be maintained or enhanced after the UK is no longer covered by EU regulations, and recognises with concern that, since 1930, over 97% of meadows and other species rich grasslands have been destroyed.

That the Parliament recognises National Meadows Day; understands that the day celebrates the beauty and biodiversity of wildflower meadows, while also drawing attention to their loss and vulnerability; notes the importance of maintaining and expanding meadows in tackling the climate emergency; supports Plantlife Scotland’s call for current environmental standards to be maintained or enhanced after the UK is no longer covered by EU regulations, and recognises with concern that, since 1930, over 97% of meadows and other species rich grasslands have been destroyed.

That the Parliament welcomes the proposals set out in the report by the Scottish Government's Expert Panel on Environmental Charging and Other Measures, Recommendations on Single-use Disposable Beverage Cups, which was published in July 2019; further welcomes the call from the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland, Friends of the Earth Scotland, the Marine Conservation Society, Surfers Against Sewage, and Greenpeace for the implementation of the proposals in the report and on further action to reduce single-use packaging in Scotland, reduce litter and boost the circular economy; supports the proposals to ban the use of PVC and expanded polystyrene in all food packaging by 2021, in line with the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive; supports pilot schemes for reusable hot drinks' cups so that a national scheme of this kind can complement the forthcoming deposit return scheme; believes that all remaining plastic food packaging sold in Scotland should be made from readily recyclable polymers by 2025; calls for a reduced reliance on all single-use carrier bags and an end to those made from plastic; recognises the need to ensure that accessibility for disabled people is not reduced and to look for ways in which accessibility and sustainability can be enhanced simultaneously, and urges industry and community groups to support moves of this kind towards a more truly circular economy.

That the Parliament welcomes the proposals set out in the report by the Scottish Government's Expert Panel on Environmental Charging and Other Measures, Recommendations on Single-use Disposable Beverage Cups, which was published in July 2019; further welcomes the call from the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland, Friends of the Earth Scotland, the Marine Conservation Society, Surfers Against Sewage, and Greenpeace for the implementation of the proposals in the report and on further action to reduce single-use packaging in Scotland, reduce litter and boost the circular economy; supports the proposals to ban the use of PVC and expanded polystyrene in all food packaging by 2021, in line with the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive; supports pilot schemes for reusable hot drinks' cups so that a national scheme of this kind can complement the forthcoming deposit return scheme; believes that all remaining plastic food packaging sold in Scotland should be made from readily recyclable polymers by 2025; calls for a reduced reliance on all single-use carrier bags and an end to those made from plastic; recognises the need to ensure that accessibility for disabled people is not reduced and to look for ways in which accessibility and sustainability can be enhanced simultaneously, and urges industry and community groups to support moves of this kind towards a more truly circular economy.

That the Parliament welcomes the Bring the Stone Home campaign launched by The Courier to return the Stone of Destiny to its ancestral home in Perth; understands that Culture Perth and Kinross has published new details of how the Stone of Destiny could form the focal point of a refurbished Perth City Hall, due to open in 2022; notes the opening of a consultation on behalf of the Commissioners for the Safeguarding of the Regalia seeking the public’s views on the future location of the Stone of Destiny; recognises that Scotland’s national heritage strategy seeks to make the country's cultural heritage open to everyone, and that locating cultural artefacts outwith the central belt is an important factor in this; encourages the public to share their views via the consultation, and welcomes the opportunity to display the Stone of Destiny in a context as close to its original home in Scone as possible.

That the Parliament welcomes the Bring the Stone Home campaign launched by The Courier to return the Stone of Destiny to its ancestral home in Perth; understands that Culture Perth and Kinross has published new details of how the Stone of Destiny could form the focal point of a refurbished Perth City Hall, due to open in 2022; notes the opening of a consultation on behalf of the Commissioners for the Safeguarding of the Regalia seeking the public’s views on the future location of the Stone of Destiny; recognises that Scotland’s national heritage strategy seeks to make the country's cultural heritage open to everyone, and that locating cultural artefacts outwith the central belt is an important factor in this; encourages the public to share their views via the consultation, and welcomes the opportunity to display the Stone of Destiny in a context as close to its original home in Scone as possible.

That the Parliament welcomes Clean Air Day on 20 June 2019; recognises the significant importance of clean air in protecting public health and protecting the environment, as well as helping to address climate change; considers that clean air must be central to all that is done to address these challenges; recognises that carbon reduction does not need to mean a lower quality of life, providing that there is adequate political and financial investment, and welcomes the role that organisations, such as the British Lung Foundation, Sustrans Scotland, FOE Scotland and Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, play in promoting the benefits of clean air.

That the Parliament welcomes Clean Air Day on 20 June 2019; recognises the significant importance of clean air in protecting public health and protecting the environment, as well as helping to address climate change; considers that clean air must be central to all that is done to address these challenges; recognises that carbon reduction does not need to mean a lower quality of life, providing that there is adequate political and financial investment, and welcomes the role that organisations, such as the British Lung Foundation, Sustrans Scotland, FOE Scotland and Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, play in promoting the benefits of clean air.

That the Parliament recognises what is sees as the key role that the expansion and improvement of railway infrastructure will play in the decarbonisation of Scotland’s transport sector and addressing the climate emergency; considers the Local Rail Development Fund to have been a success and congratulates the nine projects that were awarded funding from the first round of applications, including StARLink in St Andrews and the Newburgh Train Station Group; believes that new railway lines and reopened stations will help to increase passenger numbers, connect rural communities and reduce emissions; understands that a number of groups submitted applications for viable and credible projects, which were unsuccessful in receiving funding; notes the calls for these groups to re-apply to the second round; understands that the Donovan review of train performance highlighted issues, including punctuality on the Milngavie-Westerton line, which are in need of further Scottish Government investment; notes the belief that an expanded rail network is a priority for Scotland, and sends its best wishes to the groups that are applying to the second round of the Local Rail Development Fund.

That the Parliament recognises what is sees as the key role that the expansion and improvement of railway infrastructure will play in the decarbonisation of Scotland’s transport sector and addressing the climate emergency; considers the Local Rail Development Fund to have been a success and congratulates the nine projects that were awarded funding from the first round of applications, including StARLink in St Andrews and the Newburgh Train Station Group; believes that new railway lines and reopened stations will help to increase passenger numbers, connect rural communities and reduce emissions; understands that a number of groups submitted applications for viable and credible projects, which were unsuccessful in receiving funding; notes the calls for these groups to re-apply to the second round; understands that the Donovan review of train performance highlighted issues, including punctuality on the Milngavie-Westerton line, which are in need of further Scottish Government investment; notes the belief that an expanded rail network is a priority for Scotland, and sends its best wishes to the groups that are applying to the second round of the Local Rail Development Fund.

To ask the Scottish Government whether university student accommodation providers charging tenants for storing belongings that they cannot retrieve is in line with COVD-19 regulations.

To ask the Scottish Government whether university student accommodation providers charging tenants for storing belongings that they cannot retrieve is in line with COVD-19 regulations.

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of the COVID-19 social distancing guidance for the horticulture, fruit and vegetable industry; what information it has regarding the compliance rate, and how many outbreaks of the virus have been reported as being connected to the sector.

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of the COVID-19 social distancing guidance for the horticulture, fruit and vegetable industry; what information it has regarding the compliance rate, and how many outbreaks of the virus have been reported as being connected to the sector.

To ask the Scottish Government, following implementation of the measures on conservation of seals contained in section 10B of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill, whether it will issue seal licences to fish farms or fisheries on any other grounds listed at section 110(1) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and, if so, whether this is compatible with the requirements of the United States' Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.

To ask the Scottish Government, following implementation of the measures on conservation of seals contained in section 10B of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill, whether it will issue seal licences to fish farms or fisheries on any other grounds listed at section 110(1) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and, if so, whether this is compatible with the requirements of the United States' Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to implement the measures on conservation of seals contained in section 10B of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill.

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to implement the measures on conservation of seals contained in section 10B of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill.

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the siting of fish farms away from seal haul-out sites should be part of the range of non-lethal measures employed at fish farms to avoid conflict with seals, and whether it plans to review fish farm licensing criteria in relation to this.

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the siting of fish farms away from seal haul-out sites should be part of the range of non-lethal measures employed at fish farms to avoid conflict with seals, and whether it plans to review fish farm licensing criteria in relation to this.