Mark Ruskell

21 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is facilitating reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) exploration work in residential properties across Scotland.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government takes the issue of RAAC very seriously and over the past two years has been actively supporting efforts to address RAAC in residential settings. This has included:convening the RAAC Cross Sector Working Group and the RAAC in Housing su…

21 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it has supported residents in Tillicoultry who were evacuated from their homes in September 2023 due to the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Where residents are notified that their home may contain RAAC, we expect their local authority to provide advice on the next steps they can take. It is the responsibility of local authorities to deal with these matters.Clackmannanshire council assessed the st…

20 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any progress towards a decision on the Waterborne Freight Grant Application, submitted by DFDS, in relation to the Rosyth-Dunkirk ferry route.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: An application from DFDS to the Waterborne Freight Scheme was received by Transport Scotland in January 2024.A formal decision and an offer of grant can only been made after detailed consideration of the application. Officials had begun work on this matter wi…

20 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any discussions with (a) the UK Government and (b) Port of Rosyth officials regarding any estimated costs to upgrade the Port of Rosyth’s infrastructure to support the proposed Rosyth-Dunkirk ferry.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government continues to support the development of our ports including the potential for new direct freight and passenger ferry services linking Scotland to Europe.I have personally engaged with the UK Government and prospective ferry service pro…

20 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm in writing to the partners of the Project Brave ferry project that it will begin the process of making the necessary legislative amendment to formally authorise Grangemouth as an inland Border Control Post. 

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40003 on 8 September 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committ…

20 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that it is the responsibility of the Scottish Government to make the necessary legislative amendment to formally authorise Grangemouth as an inland Border Control Post, whether it will provide a timescale for the completion of this exercise.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government continues to support the development of our ports including the potential for new direct freight and passenger ferry services linking Scotland to Europe.The partners in Project Brave have requested that legislation is changed to mirror…

20 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to improve road safety on the (a) A84 and (b) A85, in light of recent reports of road traffic incidents.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Since 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2024 the Scottish Government has invested over £28 million on the on the maintenance and safe operation of the A84 and over £80 million on the on the maintenance and safe operation of the A85.The A84 and A85 are part…

20 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many road accidents on the (a) A84 and (b) A85 have been reported between January 2023 and August 2025, broken down by (i) month and (ii) severity. 

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following tables presents the total number of personal injury collisions on the A84 and A85 between 1 January 2023 and 13 August 2025 (latest date for which data is available for serious and slight collisions and 31 August 2025 for fatal collisions), brok…

29 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it will make to ensure that television coverage of the Tour de France is free to air when the event comes to Scotland in 2027.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Broadcast rights are ultimately a matter for the event owner, Amaury Sports Organisation, but the Scottish Government will continue to work collaboratively with all partners to develop opportunities to maximise exposure of the event, and ensure it can be enjo…

25 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the costs were for the security resources that were dedicated to supporting President Trump’s visit to Scotland in July 2025. 

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government worked collaboratively on arrangements for the recent visit of President Trump to Scotland, and recognises the hard work of the police officers and police staff who delivered this complex and large-scale operation, which ensured a safe…

10 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Forestry and Forestry and Land Scotland have published plans to mitigate any impacts of the larch removal policy to control phytophthora ramorum to ensure important breeding raptor and red squirrel populations are adequately protected, and that woodlands or suitable stru…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Forestry (SF) have published “Advice on replanting sites affected by “Phytopthora ramorum”. This includes guidance on the range of different species that the owner can match to their site conditions and constraints. This gives indiv…

10 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Forestry carried out a strategic environmental assessment of its larch removal policy for the control of phytophthora ramorum and to consider what potential impacts this removal would have on breeding raptor populations and red squirrels in particular.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Forestry have undertaken a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) for Scotland’s Forestry Strategy, which includes consideration of pests and diseases including Phytophthora ramorum and the legislation relating to plant health. Overall, and w…

1 Jul 2025 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what steps it is taking to make the parliamentary estate more pollinator-friendly, and whether these steps include (a) planting a more diverse array of plants for wild pollinators, (b) encouraging nature across the parliamentary estate more generally and (c) moving away…

Answer · Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB): Supporting Pollinators and Biodiversity at Holyrood The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) is committed to enhancing biodiversity and supporting pollinators across the parliamentary estate. These are the key initiatives that are currently in pl…

26 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, following the removal of peak rail fares in September, whether super off-peak tickets will still be available for purchase at a reduced rate to commuters, and, if so, to which routes this will apply.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Super off-peak journeys account for 0.2 per cent of all journeys made on ScotRail services. Only a very small number of journeys actually qualify for the ticket, and there are restricted travel times aimed at the quietest trains on particular routes, between …

26 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what medical assessment is required by decision makers when authorising the renewal of Blue Badges; what type of healthcare professionals are involved in the renewal process; how they are involved, and whether they are involved in all applications.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Local authorities often refer to Blue Badge applications as 'renewals', but legally, all badges expire after three years and must be reassessed equally.When authorising Blue Badge applications, local authorities are responsible for determining eligibility bas…

26 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the policy recommendations in the University of Manchester report, On Hydrogen, including their potential impact on future (a) policy and (b) publicly funded research on hydrogen in Scotland.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government recognises that the work of universities, research institutes and industry play a valuable role in the development of the hydrogen sector, and we routinely engage with relevant academic outputs of universities as we continue to develop…

26 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the level of skills and abilities of children starting primary school, and whether there has been a recorded decline in these over the last 10 years, including (a) cognitive, (b) motor, (c) practical and (d) social skills.  

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Public Health Scotland collects data provided by NHS Health Boards on child health reviews as part of the Universal Health Visiting Pathway. These reviews, which take place at 13-15 months, 27-30 months and 4-5 years, cover the following domains:1.Speech, lan…

26 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the University of Manchester report, On Hydrogen, what consideration it has given to the potential role that the recently established large industrial clusters could play in the decarbonisation of small industrial emitters.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Hydrogen policy officials met recently with several of the academics from Manchester University to discuss the findings in the On Hydrogen report and we will take these papers into consideration as part of our ongoing studies of the broader research landscape…

26 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its next steps will be once the current pollinator strategy ends, including how it plans to evaluate the performance of the strategy.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The current Pollinator Strategy runs from 2017 to 2027 and has been a successful catalyst for local authorities, communities, and other organisations to come together to improve existing pollinator habitat and improve linkages between them. In 2026, NatureSco…

11 Jun 2025 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the response to question S6O-04050, what the findings were of the review of the terms and conditions of staff employed by MSPs, particularly in relation to parental leave policies.

11 Jun 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the UK Government regarding the Asylum Right to Work Pilot proposal, in light of the Home Office reportedly stating that it is unable to commit to exploring the feasibility of the proposal.

1 Jun 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to secure a direct ferry route between Scotland and France.

29 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-35787 and S6W-27244 by Jim Fairlie on 26 March 2025 and 13 May 2024 respectively, whether it will provide an update on how many (a) journeys have been made and (b) young people have now received a free bus pass through the Youn…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The following table shows a) the number of Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme cardholders broken down to local authority level as of 31 May 2025, and b) the number of journeys, broken down by local authority, made through the Young Persons’ Fre…

29 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-35205 by Jim Fairlie on 11 March 2025, whether it has reconvened the working group with third sector representatives to explore delivery options for free bus travel for asylum seekers, and, if it is the case that it has not yet done so,&nb…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The development of a national pilot to provide free bus travel for people seeking asylum, and who are currently not eligible for existing National Concessionary Travel Schemes, is progressing with the Working Group. This group, which includes third-party repr…

28 May 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on using the powers outlined in the International Criminal Court (Scotland) Act 2001 to prosecute nationals and residents of the UK residing in Scotland who have committed war crimes.

20 May 2025 · Portfolio Question

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.

19 May 2025 · Written Question

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.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Following the fire at the WEEE Solutions site in Linwood in June 2024, I asked my officials to consider the safety of these sites and battery energy storage (BESS) sites. In particular, this was to examine whether existing safety provisions and regulations ar…

14 May 2025 · Written Question

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.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The ongoing review of water, wastewater and drainage policy and consideration of legislation is important to equip our water industry with the tools to adapt to the accelerating impacts of climate change. This Government is pressing ahead with the policy deve…

7 May 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will issue a formal public apology to members of the Gypsy/Traveller community, in light of reports of the harm caused by what was known as the Tinker Experiment.

7 May 2025 · Written Question

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.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: To clarify, as I set out in my response to S6W-35785, NatureScot had intended for the draft species licensing review to undergo an external review in April 2025 before being submitted to Ministers at a later date.The external review has been delayed slightly …