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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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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

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

Cross-party groups

Mark is a member of 7 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Autism

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Circular Economy

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Lung Health

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Migration

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Nature and Climate

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sustainable Transport

Deputy Convener

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Mark has 1 parliamentary and government role

Scottish Commission For Public Audit

Member

Party Roles

Mark has 2 party roles

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Green Party

Party Spokesperson on Transport

Scottish Green Party

Previous roles

Mark has had 21 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

29 November 2023 - 29 April 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Substitute Member

21 May 2021 - 01 July 2024

Party Spokesperson on Climate

Scottish Green Party

29 November 2023 - 26 June 2024

Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Substitute Member

08 September 2021 - 26 June 2024

Constitution Europe External Affairs and Culture Committee

Member

14 June 2017 - 09 March 2022

Scottish Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund

Trustee

26 May 2016 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Climate Change

Scottish Green Party

26 May 2016 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Green Party

26 May 2016 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Rural Economy

Scottish Green Party

29 June 2016 - 04 May 2021

Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Substitute Member

08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021

Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee

Member

16 September 2020 - 04 May 2021

COVID19 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

21 June 2005 - 02 April 2007

Party Spokesperson on Fisheries

Scottish Green Party

28 May 2003 - 02 April 2007

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Green Party

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.

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: 12 June 2025

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Statistics 2023

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "Today’s statement shows conclusively that Scotland’s emissions are now flatlining. I am really worried that the Government has no big ideas left. No climate change plan has been presented to Parliament, and we do not know when that is coming…

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 11 June 2025

Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "Would that cultural development include local food cultures as well? Obviously, one of the concerns around new national parks is what they do for food production and the food economy…

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 11 June 2025

Galloway and Ayrshire National Park Proposal

Mark Ruskell: "On the process, do you think that there should be a firmer vision of the proposed national park at the point at which ministers formally propose it? That is a bit ambiguous under the legislation…

Chamber meeting date: 10 June 2025

Care Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I recognise that I am stepping in on the bill at quite a late stage. I am here because Gillian Mackay is on maternity leave at the moment, but I am very much progressing the amendments that she pursued at stage 2…

Chamber meeting date: 10 June 2025

Care Reform (Scotland) Bill

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "First and foremost, I pay tribute to the carers and care workers who have consistently looked to the Parliament to legislate for a fairer and much more compassionate social care system. Many of them have joined us here throughout the afternoon…

Votes

How Mark Ruskell has voted in Parliament

Find out how Mark Ruskell has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-17906.1

A Migration System that Works for Scotland

Submitted by: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 12, 2025

Result 24 for, 84 against, 0 abstained, 21 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-17906.2

A Migration System that Works for Scotland

Submitted by: Michael Marra, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 12, 2025

Result 19 for, 62 against, 27 abstained, 21 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-17906

A Migration System that Works for Scotland

Submitted by: Kate Forbes, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Supported by: Tom Arthur, Richard Lochhead, Paul McLennan, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 12, 2025

Result 67 for, 42 against, 0 abstained, 20 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-17895

Approval of SSI

Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Result 85 for, 32 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-17862

Planning

Submitted by: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, June 9, 2025

Supported by: Foysol Choudhury, Katy Clark
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Result 91 for, 1 against, 21 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motions

Questions

Questions Mark Ruskell has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question ref. S6O-04832

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 12 June 2025

"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the response to question S6O-04050, what the findings were of the review of the terms and conditions of staff employed by MSPs, particularly in relation to parental leave policies."

Taken in the Chamber on 19 June 2025

Question ref. S6O-04824

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 11 June 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the UK Government regarding the Asylum Right to Work Pilot proposal, in light of the Home Office reportedly stating that it is unable to commit to exploring the feasibility of the proposal."

Taken in the Chamber on 19 June 2025

Question ref. S6W-38215

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 5 June 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-35787 and S6W-27244 by Jim Fairlie on 26 March 2025 and 13 May 2024 respectively, whether it will provide an update on how many (a) journeys have been made and (b) young people have now received a free bus pass through the Young Persons' (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme,…

Answered by Jim Fairlie on 10 June 2025

Question ref. S6W-38214

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 5 June 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-35205 by Jim Fairlie on 11 March 2025, whether it has reconvened the working group with third sector representatives to explore delivery options for free bus travel for asylum seekers, and, if it is the case that it has not yet done so, when this commitment is likely to be…

Answer expected on 19 June 2025

Question ref. S6W-37801

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 21 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of fires at recycling centres across the Mid Scotland and Fife region, what action it is taking to (a) identify and (b) reduce any risk of fires at recycling centres, particularly in relation to the correct storage of recycled batteries."

Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 June 2025

Question ref. S6F-04145

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 2 June 2025

"To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to secure a direct ferry route between Scotland and France."

Taken in the Chamber on 5 June 2025

Question ref. S6W-37704

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 16 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31971 by Gillian Martin on 12 December 2024, and the publication of its Programme for Government 2025-26, for what reason it no longer plans to introduce new primary legislation on drinking water and wastewater in the current parliamentary session."

Answered by Gillian Martin on 30 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37508

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 15 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-35785 by Jim Fairlie on 26 March 2025, whether (a) NatureScot presented its final version of the species licensing review to the Scottish Ministers in April 2025 and (b) it will provide an update on when it expects the findings to be published."

Answered by Jim Fairlie on 29 May 2025

Question ref. S6O-04749

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 28 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on using the powers outlined in the International Criminal Court (Scotland) Act 2001 to prosecute nationals and residents of the UK residing in Scotland who have committed war crimes."

Taken in the Chamber on 4 June 2025

Question ref. S6O-04729

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 21 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to support transgender people following the recent Supreme Court ruling, in light of reported concerns from transgender people, and their friends, family and allies that it undermines the rights and risks the personal safety of transgender individuals."

Taken in the Chamber on 29 May 2025

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