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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 22 previous roles

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

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

08 September 2021 - 26 June 2024

Constitution Europe External Affairs and Culture Committee

Member

29 November 2023 - 26 June 2024

Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Substitute 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

06 September 2018 - 04 May 2021

Economy Energy and Fair Work 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

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: 26 June 2025

Gull Control

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I thank Douglas Ross for lodging the motion for debate…

Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025

Gull Control

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I thank Douglas Ross for lodging the motion for debate…

Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025

Young People’s Neurodivergence, Mental Health and Wellbeing

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I, too, welcome the minister to his new post. In his statement, he said that it is important that children and their families are able to choose whether medication is right for them…

Chamber meeting date: 25 June 2025

Education (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Please record my vote as yes."

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 24 June 2025

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "I again offer apologies on behalf of Ariane Burgess, who is convening this morning’s meeting of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee…

Votes

How Mark Ruskell has voted in Parliament

Find out how Mark Ruskell has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-16789

Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 27, 2025

Result 64 for, 1 against, 53 abstained, 10 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-16892

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Mairi Gougeon, Angus North and Mearns, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 24, 2025

Supported by: Jim Fairlie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Result 91 for, 29 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-16960

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Result 90 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-16942

Approval of SSI

Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Result 70 for, 0 against, 50 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-16923

Scotland – A Fair Trade Nation

Submitted by: Angus Robertson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 24, 2025

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Result 108 for, 7 against, 1 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

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 reference: S6W-37801

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

Date lodged:21 May 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 4 June 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."

Question reference: S6O-04729

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

Date lodged:21 May 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 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."

Question reference: S6W-37440

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

Date lodged:8 May 2025

Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 19 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how noise detection equipment is being deployed by Police Scotland in relation to motorbikes that break noise limits."

Question reference: S6W-37704

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

Date lodged:16 May 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 30 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."

Question reference: S6W-37508

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

Date lodged:15 May 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 29 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."

Question reference: S6W-37415

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

Date lodged:6 May 2025

Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 14 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will amend regulation 8(b) of the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (Scotland) Regulations 2003 to increase the level of fines from £20 to £80, in order to deter engine idling, in light of reports that fines have not increased in line with inflation."

Question reference: S6W-37414

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

Date lodged:6 May 2025

Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 14 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will adopt the recommendations set out in the letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport of 11 March 2025, which was signed by over 20 councillors and environmental and public health groups, regarding the reported lack of enforcement of the ban on engine idling, in order to support its aim for Scotland…

Question reference: S6W-37413

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

Date lodged:6 May 2025

Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 14 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there is a need to improve enforcement of the ban on engine idling to achieve its vision for Scotland to have the cleanest air in Europe and to protect human and environmental health."

Question reference: S6W-37416

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

Date lodged:6 May 2025

Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 14 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will update the 2003 guidance, Local Authority Powers to Require Drivers to Switch Off Engines When Parked, to enable local authorities to more effectively enforce the ban on engine idling."

Question reference: S6W-37417

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

Date lodged:6 May 2025

Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect marine life currently at risk from bottom-trawling, and whether these actions will include further enforcement of requirements to release unintended bycatch immediately, reinstating spatial limits on bottom-trawling in coastal areas, and improving vessel monitoring to identify…

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