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 online
Post-d: Mark.Ruskell.msp@parliament.scot
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6468
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
Unit 23
Stirling Business Centre
Wellgreen
Stirling
FK8 2DZ
Phone: 01786 448 203
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Mark is a member of 2 committees
Cross-party groups
Mark is a member of 13 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Circular Economy
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Malawi
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 Commission For Public Audit
Member
Party Roles
Mark has 3 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Climate
Scottish Green Party
Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish Green Party
Party Spokesperson on Transport
Scottish Green Party
Previous roles
Mark has had 12 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
14 June 2017 - 25 October 2021
Scottish Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund
Trustee
29 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Substitute Member
16 September 2020 - 04 May 2021
COVID19 Committee
Member
08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee
Member
06 September 2018 - 04 May 2021
Economy Energy and Fair Work Committee
Substitute Member
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
28 June 2006 - 02 April 2007
Environment and Rural Development Committee
Substitute Member
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 2021.
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.
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
From 14 t o 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).
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.
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: 25 May 2022
Solar Energy
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I apologise to the chamber if I need to leave before the end of the debate as I am hosting a reception in the Parliament. I, too, offer warm thanks to Fergus Ewing for introducing the debate…
Chamber meeting date: 24 May 2022
ScotRail (Revised Timetable)
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "It is clear that unsustainable and unfair working practices have been allowed to build up across the rail industry over many years…
Chamber meeting date: 24 May 2022
European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill and United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I can confirm that, as the member who is now in charge of the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill, I will seek a reconsideration stage to ensure that the work of Mr Wightman, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Parliament as a whole is not lost. The Deputy First Minister made a clear…
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 24 May 2022
High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I will ask about two aspects of the bill that are a bit contentious. One is about the water environment: in effect, the controlled activities regulations are not being applied through the bill, which seems a bit odd…
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 24 May 2022
Role of Local Government in Delivering Net Zero
Mark Ruskell: "We have taken evidence on the national planning framework, and there is a major tilt towards the climate and nature emergencies at that high level…
Votes
How Mark Ruskell has voted in Parliament
Find out how Mark Ruskell has voted recently.
Update on Delivery of Social Security Benefits
Submitted by: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Supported by: Christina McKelvie, Shona Robison
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 26, 2022
Result 65 for, 48 against, 0 abstained, 16 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Update on Delivery of Social Security Benefits
Submitted by: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 26, 2022
Result 28 for, 85 against, 0 abstained, 16 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Update on Delivery of Social Security Benefits
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Supported by: Mark Griffin, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 26, 2022
Result 49 for, 64 against, 0 abstained, 16 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Community Wealth Building – Delivering Transformation in Scotland’s Local and Regional Economies
Submitted by: Douglas Lumsden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Result 31 for, 87 against, 0 abstained, 11 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Keeping Care Close to Home and Improving Outcomes
Submitted by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, May 23, 2022
Supported by: Carol Mochan, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Result 21 for, 97 against, 3 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
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: 12 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to consult animal welfare charities on the content of the mandatory training course proposed in the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 12 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations by the Dogs Trust, and with the aim of reducing the potential likelihood of stockpiling, whether it will consider limiting the sale of fireworks to one transaction per licence holder for each of the fireworks periods proposed in the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 3 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what research it has conducted into oxo-degradable plastics and their inclusion in Scotland's single-use plastic ban."
Answered by: Lorna Slater on 12 May 2022
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 9 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on the review of the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy."
Answered by: Lorna Slater on 10 May 2022
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 5 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Lynx to Scotland project report."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 4 April 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is regarding the impact on Scotland of the International Energy Agency's publication, 10-Point Plan to Cut Oil Use."
Answered by: Michael Matheson on 4 May 2022
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 3 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how many hill tracks constructed under permitted development rights have been built on peatland since 2014."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 3 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to consult on amending permitted development rights in relation to hill tracks, and what the scope of its consultation will be."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 3 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions between 2014 and 2021 (a) prior notification has been submitted, (b) prior approval has been granted and (c) planning authorities have required full applications to be made for the construction of hill tracks for agriculture or forestry purposes."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 22 March 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Zero Waste Scotland report on Operational Assessment of Alternative Residual Waste Treatment Technologies, (a) when it will be published and (b) whether it includes an independent peer review, and, if so, who the peer review was conducted by."
Answered by: Lorna Slater on 14 April 2022
See all of Mark Ruskell's written questions submitted in Parliament