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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 6 June 2025
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Displaying 2855 contributions

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Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Programme for Government 2021-22

Meeting date: 7 September 2021

Mark Ruskell

If I can get the time back, I will take a brief intervention.

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Programme for Government 2021-22

Meeting date: 7 September 2021

Mark Ruskell

Green MSPs warmly welcome the programme, which comes on the back of our truly historic agreement with the Scottish Government. From its very first day, the Parliament was designed for sharing power across the chamber and with the people.

Since 1999, every major political party except one has entered government at Holyrood. Now, more than ever, is the right time for the Scottish Greens to step up. Although we are the first generation to witness the catastrophe of climate change, we are also the last generation that can address it. Those who deny the need for stronger action on the climate when our world—our home—is literally burning down are betraying future generations.

The transition that we have to make must be just and leave no one behind. For sectors such as oil and gas, there must be more than a vague hope that the new jobs will appear soon. That is why I am delighted that we have Lorna Slater’s drive and expertise at the heart of the Government. She understands the industry from the inside out, and she knows how to use the toolbox to deliver that transition.

A new deal to double the capacity of onshore wind energy, support for marine and offshore renewables, a £500 million transition fund for the north-east and the requirement for just transition plans for sites such as Mossmorran are really just the beginning. The deal will deliver transformative change.

Housing is a basic human right, but it is a disgrace that many tenants and their families now pay more each month in rent than it would cost to pay a mortgage on the same property. We urgently need a new deal for tenants and I am delighted that Patrick Harvie, as the first ever minister for tenants’ rights, will be leading on the delivery of new rights, rent controls and regulation.

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Programme for Government 2021-22

Meeting date: 7 September 2021

Mark Ruskell

I will if I can get the time back.

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Programme for Government 2021-22

Meeting date: 7 September 2021

Mark Ruskell

There is international experience that shows that we can learn and move forward. The green deal and the commitment to tackle the issue—due to the poverty in our society, as has already been pointed out in the debate—mean that we will come forward with a package that will work and deal with the crisis.

Our agreement commits to building new, better homes, and retrofitting existing homes, at a pace and scale that have never been seen before. There will be more than £2 billion of investment in warm homes, with standards that will keep the bar high. It is a green new deal for housing through which public investment levers in private investment, creating new jobs in the supply chain and tackling climate change and fuel poverty.

We need more homes, but they need to be affordable and future proof. They must form neighbourhoods that are designed for people to safely get around by foot, wheel or cycle and are connected to local services and green space. Our reforms to planning and road safety will start to deliver that vision, while a trebling of investment in active travel will allow the biggest reprioritisation of road space that has been seen in generations. To put it simply, places will need to put people, rather than cars, first.

Investing in the links between our places will continue to be important but, first and foremost, such investments need to deliver on traffic reduction, safety, community benefits and climate adaptation. The days of simply investing in roads that lock in car dependency are over. We expect a strategic transport projects review to deliver a step change—

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Portfolio Question Time

Meeting date: 2 September 2021

Mark Ruskell

One of the many areas that I am particularly proud of in the Green-Scottish Government agreement is the targets to expand organic food and farming, which will restore the environment and support rural economies. Does the cabinet secretary see those targets as helping to drive the demand for organic food in our schools and other public kitchens? Will it provide greater certainty for farmers that they can convert to organic food and farming, knowing that there is a stable market?

Meeting of the Commission

Interests

Meeting date: 1 September 2021

Mark Ruskell

I have nothing to declare.

Meeting of the Commission

Audit Scotland Annual Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2021 and Auditor’s Report on the Accounts

Meeting date: 1 September 2021

Mark Ruskell

My question has been partially answered. The reduction in travel and subsistence expenditure was significant—more than half a million pounds. On your way of working, how much do you expect you will bounce back and be doing much more travel and overnight work to engage with the public bodies that you audit? Will some of the beneficial practices that you have developed be sticky? Can you forecast how you intend to work in relation to Covid? Will the extent of in-person auditing that you were doing previously be suitable as you move forward, and how much money you will need for that work?

Meeting of the Commission

Audit Scotland Annual Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2021 and Auditor’s Report on the Accounts

Meeting date: 1 September 2021

Mark Ruskell

I have a question about the home nations Covid-19 group that you have been part of and which has been sharing the experiences of public audit across these islands. What have been the main areas of learning from that group, and will it continue? Is it also benchmarking experiences outside the UK?

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Food and Drink

Meeting date: 1 September 2021

Mark Ruskell

Will the member give way?

Meeting of the Commission

Audit Scotland Annual Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2021 and Auditor’s Report on the Accounts

Meeting date: 1 September 2021

Mark Ruskell

Do you want me to continue with my other questions, chair?