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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 6 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Autism

Member

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 23 previous roles

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

21 May 2025 - 18 November 2025

Education Children and Young People Committee

Substitute Member

29 April 2025 - 02 September 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Member

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.

European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill

Chamber meeting date: 4 February 2026

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I am happy to move the motion to enable the reconsideration of the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill…

Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Chamber meeting date: 29 January 2026

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I am very proud to bring to the chamber a bill that gives us a momentous opportunity to end greyhound racing in Scotland and the suffering that those wonderful dogs face…

Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Chamber meeting date: 29 January 2026

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "The purpose of the bill is to tackle the nature emergency. We should be in no doubt that, sadly, Scotland is a nature-depleted country…

Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Chamber meeting date: 29 January 2026

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I am very proud to bring to the chamber a bill that gives us a momentous opportunity to end greyhound racing in Scotland and the suffering that those wonderful dogs face…

Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Chamber meeting date: 29 January 2026

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "The purpose of the bill is to tackle the nature emergency. We should be in no doubt that, sadly, Scotland is a nature-depleted country…

Votes

How Mark Ruskell has voted in Parliament

Find out how Mark Ruskell has voted recently.

Opposing the Scottish Government's Proposed Council Tax Rises

Motion ref. S6M-20654.1

Submitted by: Michael Marra, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Supported by: Mark Griffin
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Result 23 for, 94 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Opposing the Scottish Government's Proposed Council Tax Rises

Motion ref. S6M-20654

Submitted by: Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, February 2, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Result 59 for, 58 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Approval of SI

Motion ref. S6M-20670

Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Result 93 for, 3 against, 17 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Saving Scottish Hospitality

Motion ref. S6M-20653

Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, February 2, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Result 59 for, 59 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Opposing the Scottish Government's Proposed Council Tax Rises

Motion ref. S6M-20654.2

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Result 59 for, 51 against, 8 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP abstained

Agreed

Motions

Motions made by Mark Ruskell in Parliament

Find out what motions Mark Ruskell has submitted recently.

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 reference: S6W-43545

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party

Date lodged: 3 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 17 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to a requirement for greyhounds exiting the racing industry to have a complete veterinary history, including full disclosure of any injuries or medical conditions resulting from racing."

Question reference: S6W-43546

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party

Date lodged: 3 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 17 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms are in place to ensure that all greyhounds residing in Scotland have microchips registered with approved database operators."

Question reference: S6W-43547

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party

Date lodged: 3 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 17 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what enforcement mechanisms are in place to mitigate issues arising from a greyhound having a microchip registered with a non-approved database operator."

Question reference: S6W-43270

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party

Date lodged: 22 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 3 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the safety of fixed ankle leashes in water sports, and what consideration it has given to regulating the sale and use of these for such purposes."

Question reference: S6W-43439

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party

Date lodged: 29 January 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding seafarers’ employment rights on any new roll-on, roll-off ferry services between Rosyth and Dunkirk."

Question reference: S6W-43440

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party

Date lodged: 29 January 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-40006 by Fiona Hyslop on 18 September 2025, what recent discussions it has had with the operator regarding the Fair Work First criteria in the granting of public funds."

Question reference: S6W-43425

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party

Date lodged: 29 January 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to a national path fund, in light of the impact of the Ian Findlay Path Fund that has been delivered by Walking Scotland."

Question reference: S6W-43433

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party

Date lodged: 29 January 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of (a) seafarer and (b) port jobs in Scotland that could be created by the introduction of a roll-on, roll-off passenger and freight ferry service between Rosyth and Dunkirk, and whether it will discuss these matters with representatives from the maritime trade unions in…

Question reference: S6W-43420

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party

Date lodged: 29 January 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how many tickets that would have previously been considered peak-fare have been sold on ScotRail routes since the permanent removal of peak fares in September 2025."

Question reference: S6W-43418

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party

Date lodged: 29 January 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how many first-class rail tickets across all ScotRail routes have been sold since the permanent removal of peak fares in September 2025."

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