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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)


Mark Ruskell is Convener of the Rural Affairs Committee

About Mark Ruskell

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @x.com/markruskell

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 6468
Text relay calls welcome.

Career as MSP

Career as MSP

Scottish Green Party
MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife (Region)
05 May 2016 to present

Scottish Green Party
Former MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife (Region)
01 May 2003 to 02 Apr 2007

Committees

Mark Ruskell is a member of 2 committees

Climate Action Committee

Substitute Member

Rural Affairs Committee

Convener

Cross-party groups

Mark Ruskell is not a member of any cross-party groups

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Mark Ruskell has 1 parliamentary and government role

Conveners Group

Member

Party Roles

Mark Ruskell has 1 party role

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Nature

Scottish Green Party

Previous roles

Mark Ruskell has had the following roles in Parliament

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

21 May 2021 to 08 April 2026

Party Spokesperson on Transport

Scottish Green Party

21 May 2021 to 08 April 2026

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Green Party

02 September 2025 to 08 April 2026

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Substitute Member

17 June 2021 to 08 April 2026

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Member

24 June 2021 to 08 April 2026

scottish commission for public audit

Member

21 May 2025 to 18 November 2025

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Substitute Member

29 April 2025 to 02 September 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Member

29 November 2023 to 29 April 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Substitute Member

21 May 2021 to 01 July 2024

Party Spokesperson on Climate

Scottish Green Party

29 November 2023 to 26 June 2024

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Substitute Member

08 September 2021 to 26 June 2024

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

Member

14 June 2017 to 09 March 2022

scottish parliamentary contributory pension fund

Trustee

26 May 2016 to 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Climate Change

Scottish Green Party

26 May 2016 to 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Green Party

26 May 2016 to 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Rural Economy

Scottish Green Party

16 September 2020 to 04 May 2021

COVID-19 Committee

Member

08 June 2016 to 04 May 2021

Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee

Member

06 September 2018 to 04 May 2021

Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee

Substitute Member

29 June 2016 to 04 May 2021

Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Substitute Member

13 September 2018 to 16 September 2020

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Deputy Convener

04 September 2018 to 13 September 2018

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Member

29 June 2016 to 06 September 2018

Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee

Substitute Member

21 June 2005 to 02 April 2007

Party Spokesperson on Fisheries

Scottish Green Party

28 May 2003 to 02 April 2007

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Green Party

28 June 2006 to 02 April 2007

Environment and Rural Development Committee

Substitute Member

09 September 2004 to 07 June 2006

Environment and Rural Development Committee

Deputy Convener

30 June 2004 to 09 September 2004

Environment and Rural Development Committee

Member

03 September 2003 to 30 June 2004

Environment and Rural Development Committee

Substitute Member

Register of interests

Mark Ruskell'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 2026.

Remuneration and related undertaking

No registrable interests.

Gifts

No registrable interests.

Overseas visits

No registrable interests.

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.

Recent Activity

Official Report

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.

Hyperscale AI Data Centres

Chamber meeting date: 16 September 2026

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "Will the minister give way?"

Sewage Spills (Highlands)

Chamber meeting date: 15 September 2026

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): "The Kinghorn community in Fife is faced with losing its bathing water designation because of sewage pollution on the beach. That case is to do with not sewage overflow but faulty household connections, which are discharging sewage on the beach…

Rural Support Plan

Rural Affairs Committee meeting date: 9 September 2026

The Convener: "Welcome back. Before we begin item 3, I note apologies from Andrew Baxter, who is unable to join us this morning…

Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026(SSI 2026/240)

Rural Affairs Committee meeting date: 9 September 2026

The Convener: "Item 2 is consideration of a negative Scottish statutory instrument. The regulations are laid under the negative procedure, which means that they will come into force unless the Parliament agrees a motion to annul the instrument…

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Rural Affairs Committee meeting date: 9 September 2026

The Convener (Mark Ruskell): "Good morning, and welcome to the third meeting of the Rural Affairs Committee in session 7. Before we begin, please ensure that all electronic devices are switched to silent.Our first item of business is a decision on taking items 4 and 5 in private…

Votes

How Mark Ruskell has voted in Parliament

Find out how Mark Ruskell has voted recently.

Preventing Violence Against Women for an Equally Safe Scotland

Motion ref. S7M-01163.3

Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, September 14, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Result 26 for, 78 against, 15 abstained, 10 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Preventing Violence Against Women for an Equally Safe Scotland

Motion ref. S7M-01163.2

Submitted by: Amanda Lindsay, Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK . Date lodged: Monday, September 14, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Result 17 for, 102 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Scotland’s Energy Opportunity

Motion ref. S7M-01114.2

Submitted by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 10, 2026

Result 91 for, 25 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Scotland’s Energy Opportunity

Motion ref. S7M-01114

Submitted by: Stephen Gethins, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, John Swinney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 10, 2026

Result 90 for, 25 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Scotland’s Energy Opportunity

Motion ref. S7M-01114.1

Submitted by: Kristopher Leask, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 10, 2026

Result 83 for, 24 against, 8 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

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: S7W-03389

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

Date lodged: 16 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, following its consultation in late 2024, whether it will provide an update on progress towards the implementation of a disposable cup levy."

Question reference: S7W-03307

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

Date lodged: 15 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 29 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Delivery Plan to introduce statutory nature restoration targets by 2026, for what reason consultation on targets has been delayed until 2027, and what steps it is taking to establish targets as soon as possible."

Question reference: S7W-03182

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

Date lodged: 10 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 25 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that it meets its commitment to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030, in light of NatureScot data indicating that the proportion of land contributing towards the target increased by only 0.34 percentage points between 2025 and 2026."

Question reference: S7W-03183

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

Date lodged: 10 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 25 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the issues raised in Scottish Environment LINK’s Nature Protection Scorecard."

Question reference: S7W-03181

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

Date lodged: 10 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 25 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that protected sites are being effectively protected, in light of NatureScot data indicating a decline in the proportion of protected sites being monitored annually, from 97 sites (5…

Question reference: S7W-02411

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

Date lodged: 10 August 2026

Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 8 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its consultation on the Draft Energy Efficiency (Domestic Private Rented Property) (Scotland) Regulations, which closed on 29 August 2025, when it will publish the responses received."

Question reference: S7W-02452

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

Date lodged: 12 August 2026

Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 4 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timetable for rolling out the £2 bus fare cap in (a) Stirling, (b) Fife, (c) Perth and (d) Clackmannanshire."

Question reference: S7W-02450

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

Date lodged: 11 August 2026

Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a timeline for when it will review section 40 of the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014."

Question reference: S7O-00171

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

Date lodged: 26 August 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to further update planning guidance in relation to the development of hyperscale data centres, following the new data centre planning direction issued on 17 August 2026."

Question reference: S7W-02451

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

Date lodged: 11 August 2026

Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 August 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to notify relevant officials and enforcement officers of new vehicle idling guidance for local authorities since its publication in March 2026."