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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 5 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 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 19 previous roles

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

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

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.

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.

I am a hobby beekeeper. [Registered 28 May 2024]

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.

Ecocide (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 2 December 2025

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "Can that dovetailing be undertaken in the context of the bill, or is there a need to go back and look again at the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014—if not under the bill, then in future…

Gull Control

Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025

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

Gull Control

Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025

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

Young People’s Neurodivergence, Mental Health and Wellbeing

Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025

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…

Education (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Chamber meeting date: 25 June 2025

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

Votes

How Mark Ruskell has voted in Parliament

Find out how Mark Ruskell has voted recently.

Scottish Rate Resolution

Motion ref. S6M-20844

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 19, 2026

Result 93 for, 29 against, 1 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Business Programme

Motion ref. S6M-20826.1

Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Result 51 for, 71 against, 0 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Approval of SSI

Motion ref. S6M-20827

Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Result 112 for, 7 against, 1 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

A Just Transition Fund for Mossmorran

Motion ref. S6M-20820.2

Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Supported by: Alex Rowley, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Result 93 for, 28 against, 1 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Ending US Military Use of Scottish Airports

Motion ref. S6M-20819.3

Submitted by: Angus Robertson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Supported by: Graeme Dey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Result 89 for, 7 against, 27 abstained, 6 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: S6O-05702

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

Date lodged: 18 March 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential public health impact of silica air pollution."

Question reference: S6W-44327

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

Date lodged: 12 March 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 25 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what progress has been made towards reviewing allowances for paternity and parental partner leave for all staff."

Question reference: S6O-05664

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

Date lodged: 11 March 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of NHS Tayside having stopped accepting referrals for children without co-existing mental health disorders in March 2025, what further action it has taken to support children in accessing timely autism spectrum disorder assessments."

Question reference: S6W-44173

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

Date lodged: 10 March 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what funding will be available to local authorities that are still undertaking the roll out of 20mph zones to move forward, in light of the targeted £4 million funding not continuing beyond the fiscal year 2024-25…

Question reference: S6W-44172

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

Date lodged: 10 March 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress that Transport Scotland has made towards changing the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph on appropriate roads for which it is the transport authority."

Question reference: S6W-43619

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

Date lodged: 6 March 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 20 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any potential environmental impact, what its position is on the decommissioning and storage of nuclear submarines at dockyards in Scotland, including Rosyth."

Question reference: S6W-43872

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

Date lodged: 20 February 2026

Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the active travel budget being underspent over the last two years of budget decisions, for what reason it was reduced in the Autumn revision of the Budget."

Question reference: S6W-43873

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

Date lodged: 20 February 2026

Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the £60 million Bus Infrastructure Fund is included under the Active and Sustainable Travel budget, rather than having its own line in the 2026-27 Budget."

Question reference: S6W-43961

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

Date lodged: 26 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government when it last published a report on safe staffing levels in early learning and childcare provision."

Question reference: S6W-43962

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

Date lodged: 26 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether the safe staffing guidance for early learning and childcare settings has been reviewed, including in relation to safe staffing levels when supporting children with additional support needs."