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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.

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.

Asylum Seekers (Perth)

Chamber meeting date: 5 February 2026

1. Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to ensure the safety of people seeking asylum who are housed in hotels across Perth. (S6O-05467)"

Asylum Seekers (Perth)

Chamber meeting date: 5 February 2026

1. Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to ensure the safety of people seeking asylum who are housed in hotels across Perth. (S6O-05467)"

Asylum Seekers (Perth)

Chamber meeting date: 5 February 2026

1. Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to ensure the safety of people seeking asylum who are housed in hotels across Perth. (S6O-05467)"

Asylum Seekers (Perth)

Chamber meeting date: 5 February 2026

1. Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to ensure the safety of people seeking asylum who are housed in hotels across Perth. (S6O-05467)"

Asylum Seekers (Perth)

Chamber meeting date: 5 February 2026

1. Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to ensure the safety of people seeking asylum who are housed in hotels across Perth. (S6O-05467)"

Votes

How Mark Ruskell has voted in Parliament

Find out how Mark Ruskell has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 62 Amendment 26

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Result 75 for, 26 against, 0 abstained, 28 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 62 Amendment 11

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Result 15 for, 85 against, 0 abstained, 29 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill

Motion ref. S6M-20717

Submitted by: Ivan McKee, Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, February 9, 2026

Supported by: Shona Robison
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Result 103 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 26 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 62 Amendment 3

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Result 20 for, 80 against, 0 abstained, 29 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 62 Amendment 2

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Result 14 for, 83 against, 0 abstained, 32 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

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-43439

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

Date lodged: 29 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 10 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-43546

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

Date lodged: 3 February 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 10 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: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 10 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-43433

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

Date lodged: 29 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 10 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-43425

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

Date lodged: 29 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 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-43435

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

Date lodged: 29 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 10 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has discussed the Fair Work Convention with (a) DFDS, (b) Ptarmigan Shipping and (c) trade unions, in relation to the crewing of vessels on any new roll-on, roll-off ferry services planned between Rosyth and Dunkirk."

Question reference: S6W-43416

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

Date lodged: 29 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will prioritise rail fleet improvements for Fife routes, in light of reports that a significant portion of the trains currently servicing the route are older diesel models that are more prone to breakdowns and delays."

Question reference: S6W-43426

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

Date lodged: 29 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the regional transport partnerships’ budgets is spent on (a) walking and (b) wheeling."

Question reference: S6W-43427

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

Date lodged: 29 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure (a) the improvement and maintenance of paths and path networks and (b) sustained investment to support outdoor access, access officers and ranger services across Scotland."

Question reference: S6W-43429

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

Date lodged: 29 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 10 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what long-term implementation plan is in place to reduce Type 1 emergency department bed occupancy to below the 85% level advised by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) and ensure that people can be seen quickly and safely admitted."

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