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 3 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
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 the 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.
COVID-19 Committee meeting date: 10 December 2020
Mark Ruskell: "Perhaps I could pick up on that point. I am starting to hear about some practical implications stemming from the decision to keep most schools in Scotland open until 3.30 on 23 December…
COVID-19 Committee meeting date: 10 December 2020
Covid-19 Restrictions (Winter)
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "Good morning. I want to ask about the medium to long term, and, in particular, what kind of recovery you would like for your sectors…
Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee meeting date: 8 December 2020
Invasive Non-native Species (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment etc) Regulations 2020 [Draft]
Mark Ruskell: "Thanks very much for that outline, minister. Will NatureScot and SEPA sit on the new committee or the scientific forum…
Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee meeting date: 8 December 2020
Environmental Standards Scotland Interim Board
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I will ask about vision and priorities. Jim Martin, you have answered most of my questions on that. However, there are two questions that arise from your answers. The first is about your vision for working with this committee or its successor…
Chamber meeting date: 3 December 2020
1. Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "To ask the Scottish Government what changes to taxation it can make to address the reported widening inequality between small retail businesses and large corporations as a result of Covid-19. (S5O-04817)"
Votes
How Mark Ruskell has voted in Parliament
Find out how Mark Ruskell has voted recently.
Responding to Parliamentary Will and Calls for Clarity in Education
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Supported by: Richard Lochhead, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Result 61 for, 62 against, 0 abstained, 6 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Economy
Submitted by: Maurice Golden, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 7, 2020
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Result 94 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 7 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Responding to Parliamentary Will and Calls for Clarity in Education
Submitted by: Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 7, 2020
Supported by: Michelle Ballantyne
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Result 59 for, 4 against, 61 abstained, 5 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Result 95 for, 25 against, 1 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Economy
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Supported by: Kate Forbes, Fiona Hyslop, Ben Macpherson, Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Result 71 for, 31 against, 22 abstained, 5 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: 26 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made within the Farmed Fish Health Framework towards the development of a standardised approach to the recording of on-farm mortality, and, further to the answer to question S5W-32898 by Fergus Ewing on 30 October 2020, whether, within the work of the new steering group and priority workstreams…
Answered by: Fergus Ewing on 11 December 2020
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 10 December 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on granting protected status to (a) hedgehogs and (b) hedgehog breeding sites from property developers."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 30 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the growth and range of the badger population."
Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham on 10 December 2020
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, how many Habitats Regulations Appraisals have been completed regarding applications for the release of non-native gamebirds in each of the last 10 years; whether Scottish Natural Heritage will publish the environmental reports that…
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”."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 9 December 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government, in the light of Scotland being declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone, what measures are in place to ensure that gamebird breeders (a) register captive flocks and (b) comply with all relevant aspects of the legislation."
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 it considers its decision to take no action regarding the unregulated release of non-native gamebirds is consistent with the precautionary principle and the principle that preventative action should be taken to avert…
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 30 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government how it is engaging with farming communities to allay concerns in relation to badgers."
Answered by: Mairi Gougeon on 7 December 2020
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 30 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what role environmental NGOs will play in the development of a licensing scheme for driven grouse moors between now and March 2021."
Answered by: Mairi Gougeon on 7 December 2020
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 30 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what role the (a) Scottish Gamekeepers Association, (b) British Association for Shooting and Conservation and (c) Scottish Land and Estates will play in the development of a licensing scheme for driven grouse moors between now and March 2021."
Answered by: Mairi Gougeon on 7 December 2020
See all of Mark Ruskell's written questions submitted in Parliament