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 Lung Health
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Nordic Countries
Deputy 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.
Chamber meeting date: 23 February 2021
Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I am happy to do so and I acknowledge the creative and constructive discussion with the minister and the bill team in between stage 2 and stage 3; the amendments that are presented are the outcome of that…
Chamber meeting date: 23 February 2021
Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "As a member coming to the bill in its later stages, I thank the committee for its detailed stage 1 report, which made the intricacies of the bill much easier to pick up…
Chamber meeting date: 23 February 2021
Scotland’s Railways
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I join other members in thanking John Finnie for using this opportunity, in what I think will be his last members’ business debate at Holyrood, to highlight this important issue…
COVID-19 Committee meeting date: 18 February 2021
Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Amendment (No 16) Regulations 2021 [Draft]
Mark Ruskell: "I will ask a question that I have asked before, about the prioritisation of the vaccine for those under 50 who are not clinically vulnerable, but work in certain professions—shop workers, for example…
COVID-19 Committee meeting date: 18 February 2021
Citizens Panel
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "This is fantastic work. We will only scratch its surface this morning, but we will keep referring back to it—it is great. Mr Perris just referred to self-isolation and some of the difficulties that some people face…
Votes
How Mark Ruskell has voted in Parliament
Find out how Mark Ruskell has voted recently.
Budget (Scotland) (No.5) Bill
Submitted by: Kate Forbes, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 25, 2021
Result 88 for, 31 against, 5 abstained, 5 no vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Budget (Scotland) (No.5) Bill
Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 25, 2021
Result 53 for, 62 against, 10 abstained, 4 no vote
MSP abstained
Vote Defeated
Budget (Scotland) (No.5) Bill
Submitted by: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 25, 2021
Result 22 for, 60 against, 41 abstained, 6 no vote
MSP abstained
Vote Defeated
Scottish Rate Resolution
Submitted by: Kate Forbes, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 25, 2021
Result 88 for, 1 against, 35 abstained, 5 no vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Fair Funding for Local Government
Submitted by: Aileen Campbell, Clydesdale, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Result 65 for, 51 against, 0 abstained, 13 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 February 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether retail sellers of prams and other essential baby equipment are included in the list of essential retailers under its COVID-19 regulations, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 26 February 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether double skinned anti-predator nets, as called for by the Scottish Parliament's Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform and Rural Economy and Connectivity committees, and/or single nets of stronger, more rigid materials than traditional single nets represent "satisfactory…
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 26 February 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, in recognition of public concerns including the 30,000 signature petition against the use of acoustic deterrent devices, the lack of opportunity for public scrutiny of European Protected Species (EPS) licence applications and Marine Scotland’s scientific methodology, whether it believes that any farm could pass…
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 26 February 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-30448 by Mairi Gougeon on 15 July 2020, whether Cooke Aquaculture Scotland salmon farms use stronger, more rigid nets to enclose its stock than the Scottish Salmon Company farms and, if such nets are in use, what its position is on whether there are "satisfactory alternatives" to…
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 26 February 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether increased cost or inconvenience could be considered a valid reason to claim that an alternative to the use of acoustic deterrent devises is not a "satisfactory alternative"; whether the separation distance between the nets on a double skinned anti-predator net can be increased where…
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 25 February 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to revise its model for determining whether cetaceans can be restored to, or maintained at, Favourable Conservation Status to allow for situations where acoustic deterrent devices within a narrow channel may restrict migration and access to feeding and nursery grounds of a much greater area…
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 25 February 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to revise its model for determining whether cetaceans can be restored to, or maintained at, Favourable Conservation Status, in light of any evidence that almost all farms which use acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs), use multiple ADDS and that the time for hearing injury to occur at a certain…
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 25 February 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered (a) any evidence that the new generation of low frequency acoustic startle devices disturb and elicit the so-called startle reflex in (i) bottlenose dolphins and (ii) any cetacean, and (b) any evidence that the hearing thresholds of cetaceans and pinnipeds overlap."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 25 February 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the salmon aquaculture sector in Scotland for the period October 2018 to September 2019 for (a) Cooke Aquaculture and (b) the Scottish Salmon Company in regard to how many farms (i) used acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs), (ii) did not use ADDs and (A) used either double skinned anti-predator…
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 25 February 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government (a) for what reasons it has not published the European Protected Species (EPS) licence applications for fish farm acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs) submitted by the 15 January 2021 deadline for public scrutiny, but has published EPS licence applications for ADDs used for other purposes, (b) whether it will publish the…
Awaiting answer
See all of Mark Ruskell's written questions submitted in Parliament