Mark Ruskell
Scottish Green Party · Scotland
“I move amendment S7M-00434.3, to insert at end: “; recognises that, despite a media backlash, a majority of the public continues to back strong climate action, especially young people; further recognises that local communities and workers must have a meaningful participatory role in developing and implementing local climate action, with t…”
“I move, That the Parliament recognises that climate change constitutes an emergency; supports the goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius; notes the consequences of climate change that are currently impacting populations and places around the world; condemns any spread of misinformation about and denial of the impacts of clima…”
“Mark Ruskell was right to point out that we need a just transition, as we do not want to replicate the mistakes of the 1980s. However, we need action on electricity prices.”
“We cannot cut ourselves off from the impacts of global climate change, as Reform would want us to do, just as we cannot opt out of global action by pretending that Scotland does not have huge advantages over other countries when it comes to reducing emissions.”
“A study that was commissioned by the Institute for Public Policy Research a couple of months ago showed that 62 per cent of the UK public back strong climate action, and individual policies such as traffic reduction measures, frequent flyer taxes and low- carbon home heating remain popular.”
“We need to accelerate that action, because as we do so, we will build market certainty and create new markets that will provide new jobs and boost businesses. I think that I have made quite a lot of mention of the amount of GVA that it is bringing to Scotland.”
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“Those activities are vital for communities, helping to connect the local community and build support networks for people at all stages of life. Libraries are often the last free, warm facilities that are available in many rural communities. They are genuinely a lifeline. It is ironic that closures are being proposed to make savings for Perth and Kinross Council when that is clearly a false economy. Perth and Kinross Council spends less than any other council on its library services, despite having the second-highest level of library usage in Scotland. Removing warm, free spaces that combat social isolation will have a negative cost to the council and to health services in the long run. It is no wonder, therefore, that Perthshire’s communities have mobilised against closures, organising petitions and working together.”
“Those reminiscence groups are one of the few places where sufferers can escape the fog of dementia and feel truly heard. One constituent pointed out that because the local primary school does not have its own dedicated library, the services at Scone library have helped to fill that gap. In Birnam, a father told us how his family have borrowed “hundreds” of books, while a mother told us how visiting the library is a highlight of her daughter’s week and is encouraging a real love of reading in her and all her friends. Across Scotland, libraries host workshops and activities that benefit the community. There are knitting and toddler groups, and every library in Scotland offers free or low-cost activities such as bookbug, which is designed to support early-years development.”
“Seven libraries across Perthshire have been threatened with closure, from Alyth to Auchterarder and Birnam to Comrie, and Scone, and libraries that will remain open are likely to have their hours cut from April this year. Most of those are rural libraries, and once they are gone, they will be gone forever. Throughout the winter, I have been to some big demonstrations in Perthshire and attended online meetings, at which people have told warm-hearted stories of how important libraries are to them. It is clear that libraries are about so much more than just book borrowing. In Scone, I learned about how vital the library is for older people, enabling them to come together and share memories, especially those who are suffering with dementia.”
“I thank those members who signed my motion to bring the debate to the chamber. I am sure that members will wish to thank the communities that have fought so hard to save our libraries, and to thank librarians for their tireless work. I was delighted to host library campaigners from across Scotland, and from the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Scotland, in Parliament today, and we had an insightful discussion with members at lunch time. I welcome those who have joined us in the public gallery, and many more who are watching online. In recent months, we have seen an outpouring of love for our libraries, which shows how critical they are to the health of our communities, especially in this post-Covid age, when there are real dangers of social isolation and misinformation at large.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the culture secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the potential impact on the provision of library services in Mid Scotland and Fife of the proposed local government settlement for 2025-26. (S6O-04256)”
“It will report, and we will share with the relevant authorities and with Parliament what it tells us and the action that flows from that.”
“I thank the emergency services and offer condolences to those who lost a loved one during the storm. It was a relief to hear from the cabinet secretary that no patients were harmed at Forth Valley royal hospital during the power outage. I understand that the back-up generator failed. The emergency battery that was the last resort has limited capacity, of course; I understand that it can provide only up to 90 minutes of power. Given that patients would have been undergoing surgery and been in critical care at the hospital at the time, is the cabinet secretary satisfied that health boards are really putting in the resilience measures that are needed to deal with such a storm? Angela Constance: I reassure Mr Ruskell that a full investigation of the incident is on-going.”
“That needs to change, so I welcome the voluntary steps that SSEN has already taken. We have socialised the financial costs of building shared infrastructure across the country, but we must recognise that the communities that host that infrastructure— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Mr Ruskell, you will need to conclude. Mark Ruskell: —also pay a price, and it must be covered by the rest of us. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We move to the open debate. As previously advised, there is no time in hand. There will be back-bench speeches of up to four minutes. 16:26”
“There must be tougher requirements on developers who do not undertake a robust public engagement process, and a requirement to reconsult the public if they cannot evidence how they have taken concerns into account. The Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland also raised concerns that the processes could become tick-box exercises and that engagement must be done in such a way that it is genuinely meaningful for communities. My final point is about benefits. Since 1990, more than £194 million in community benefits have been committed from renewable energy projects in Scotland. That is significant, but it is a fraction of what could be delivered if communities had major equity stakes in projects. However, in comparison, no financial community benefits have been required for transmission projects.”
“During the new statutory pre-application process, developers will be required to notify the public and gather views. They will need to include evidence that there has been a robust process alongside their consent application, otherwise it will be rejected. Currently, any prior community engagement that is carried out on an application is voluntary on the part of the developer. There is no consistency in what information developers need to present, whom they must inform and whose views they must seek out, and there is no consistency about how much of that information must be supplied to the planning authorities. I urge both Governments to seriously consider the concerns that have been raised by organisations including Planning Democracy and the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland.”
“I do not accept the Tories’ motion, which asks us to throw out all the work that has taken place so far, ignoring the consultation responses that have already been submitted and effectively shutting down the opportunity to refine the Government’s plans further. Public inquiries are a sign that the planning and consenting system has failed, yet perpetual public inquiries appear to be what the Tories want for our communities. Public inquiries are highly formalised and adversarial, and can last for years. They are not a process that is suited to having the views of time-poor and underresourced community groups heard equally alongside those of developers. Both Governments have been clear that attention must be given to how communities can be part of the future energy consenting process.”
“That growth in generation is already well under way in Scotland. We are doing very well in that regard, but it has exposed the huge backlog that we now face in investment in upgrading the electricity transmission network. The Scottish Renewables briefing for the debate highlights that the UK will need to build twice as much transmission infrastructure in the next five years as it has over the past decade. Simply put, we do not have the transmission lines that we need to get the electricity to where it needs to be. We must grapple with that challenge now. The climate will not wait, nor will the households that face ever-rising gas bills. The joint UK Government and Scottish Government consultation seeks to address that growing barrier in transmission.”
“The energy transition is one of the biggest challenges and biggest opportunities in Scotland today, and it is important that Parliament supports the steps that are needed to deliver it. The missed 2030 climate target and the latest advice from the Climate Change Committee, in 2024, remind us that there is no path to net zero for Scotland or the UK without a major switch from fossil fuels to electricity. That is the case across many sectors, from the transport industry to how we heat our homes. Of course, in recent years, all Governments of all colours in the UK have accepted that, including the recent Tory Government at Westminster. That switch requires a massive increase in the generation of renewable energy from all our abundant onshore and offshore wind, hydro, solar and wave resources.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase access to thrombectomies in the Fife region, in light of the reported 1.9 per cent increase in investment in the national thrombectomy service. (S6O-04226)”
“The Government’s response to the idea of potentially rescheduling the various contracts needs more unpicking outside the chamber, although I recognise that reordering them could well have some substantial supply chain impacts, which would bring risks in terms of price. We have not been able to unpack that in our debate this afternoon, but it is an area of analysis that the NZET Committee could get into. This afternoon’s debate has been useful. Our thoughts are with the communities that suffer from underinvestment in the A9, and we look forward to the delivery of safety improvements. 16:27”
“Our committee has done a great piece of work in scrutinising the progress on ferries 801 and 802. There could be a case for us to look in more detail at the A9, particularly as the briefings start to come through, and consider issues around delivery and communities’ concerns. Scrutiny and transparency are hugely important. I am interested in the comments of Fergus Ewing and the committee convener about the competition in the road-building sector and other industries, not just for funding but for engineers and expertise to deliver pipelines of projects. That is familiar, because I have heard the same concerns being voiced by the rail industry, which also needs certainty but has subcontractors that are looking around for other sectors in which they can sustain work. That is an important theme for the Parliament to reflect on.”
“It is important that we get into the guts of that, take some of the heat out of the debate and look at the matter in the light of communities’ experiences. I will reflect on a couple of other points that members made in the debate. I welcome the committee report’s focus on the need for scrutiny and transparency. Mr Golden reflected on the words of the former First Minister on the need to be candid about the 2025 date. There has been some confusion about that and there is a need to shine some light on it. I think that, for a number of years, Mr Ewing thought that the Scottish Green Party was delaying the work, although maybe not particularly in relation to the A9. I am pleased that Edward Mountain, who is the convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, is in the chamber.”
“However, we must also recognise the bigger picture. I do not know whether Mr Fairlie will be concluding the debate, but he will know that we saw high traffic speeds in the continuously dualled section between the Keir roundabout in Dunblane and Broxden before average speed cameras were brought in there and that we have seen a number of serious issues at junctions. There have been deaths, collisions and tragedies in southern Perthshire over many years, on a dualled section of the A9. I simply ask Mr Ewing and others to reflect on the fact that this is not a simple issue of dualling versus non-dualling. It is a complex issue, and junctions and the ways that communities use the road are important.”
“That is before one considers the additional complexities of the A9, where there is rapid oscillation between dual and single carriageways and where there are also sections of two-plus-one- lane roadway. Does that not prove that highlanders are at greater risk of dying than people in the central belt and does that not, in itself, make a case for giving us the same expectation of safety as central belt dwellers? Mark Ruskell: Perhaps Fergus Ewing did not hear me, so I reiterate the point that, in 2023, the number of collisions on dualled sections of the A9 was actually higher than that on non-dualled sections. It is a complex picture. I am not discounting the fact that dualling has a role to play and that the switch between non-dualled and dualled stretches is highly confusing and results in accidents.”
“Figures from 2023 showed that per-kilometre collision rates on currently dualled sections of the A9 are actually higher than those on non-dualled sections. We must reflect on that, because dualling is not a complete solution. I will give way to Mr Ewing. Fergus Ewing: Laura Hansler and my constituent Chris Miller have worked tirelessly on safety measures. I did not have time to discuss those today but they are absolutely essential. The Road Safety Foundation has found that the chances of dying in a road traffic accident on a single-carriageway trunk road are 10 times greater than those of dying on a motorway and three times greater than those of dying on a dual carriageway.”
“Whether a full dualling of the A9 would pass the test today—particularly given the objectives in the national transport strategy, which are weighted towards safety, connectivity and economic growth but also towards climate—is a good question, but we are beyond that now and today’s scrutiny has very much been about how the programme will be delivered in the years to come. A number of members have spoken about the importance of dualling, and I recognise that it has a role. I am somewhat disappointed that very few members have spoken about junctions and junction safety, which I think are just as important. I also point to some evidence that the committee heard from stakeholders, which particularly highlighted figures from 2023. Fergus Ewing: Will the member give way? Mark Ruskell: In a second.”
“I thank members for the reflective tone of this debate. Several members have reflected on the original decision, which was made back in 2011. I acknowledge the fact that that decision was made and that dualling the A9 is a priority for the Scottish Government, as it is for most parties in the Parliament. However, I invite members to look at the history of that decision. It is important to remember that the original business case for a full dualling of the A9 failed because it did not meet the right cost to benefit ratio, including the consideration of safety measures. Ultimately, a political decision was made to prioritise a full dualling programme above other roadbuilding and transport projects that communities across Scotland were calling for and we are where we are today.”
“Improved lighting is the biggest and simplest change that could be introduced quickly at that junction.”
“I welcome the fact that orders for the section between the Pass of Birnam and the Tay crossing will be published in spring, but, in the meantime, other options need to be pursued. I gather that officials are looking at interim improvements, which will be discussed with local communities in the months ahead, and I ask the cabinet secretary to ensure that the process leaves no stone unturned. I welcome the many discussions that we have had about the A9 in recent years. A temporary roundabout at Ballinluig has been introduced in the past. A slip road might also be possible within the constraints of the land that is available to ministers. Speed limit reductions and enforcement measures can be put in place relatively quickly and effectively. Reactivating the A9’s safety cameras would also be an obvious improvement.”
“For many years, local people have been fearful of using the A9 for their everyday business. The Dunkeld junction is terrifying, and the aftermath of repeated fatal crashes there has been traumatic for everybody in the community. I am told that Transport Scotland officials have been warned not to use the junction when they head north on to the A9 on business, but the families who live there are expected to just carry on and use the junction every day. That is unacceptable. Solutions for that stretch need to be put in place urgently; we should not wait for the eventual completion of the dualling project in 2032. A roundabout is proposed at Dunkeld as an integral part of the dualling programme. That is welcome, because saving lives is far more important than a couple of extra minutes being added to the journey from Inverness to Perth.”
“Over the years that I have served as a member for Mid Scotland and Fife, I have listened carefully to my constituents about the need for safety improvements on the A9. I want to use this opportunity to reflect the views of communities along the section between the Pass of Birnam and the Tay crossing. That stretch of the A9 is unique. The hills surrounding Dunkeld and Birnam constrain the pass and tighten the availability of space for the road, the railway and the surrounding community. The wider community, which includes Inver, is severed by the A9, to the point that access to the railway station is difficult and dangerous. Along that short section, there are eight junctions that serve communities and popular visitor attractions, including the Hermitage, and none of those junctions could be considered safe.”
“I thank the committee for its scrutiny of the petition on dualling the A9, and I congratulate Laura Hansler on successfully getting her petition through the committee stage and on to the floor of the chamber. I have met Laura. Although it is fair to say that we do not agree on all aspects of the A9 issue, I agree with her on the need for investment to make our roads safer. I agree, too, that delays in such investment continue to result in crashes, tragic injuries and deaths. In tribute to all the victims of road crashes in Scotland, we should strive to make every dangerous road and street safer and work towards the objective, which the Scottish Government has now adopted, of there being zero deaths on our roads.”
“It should acknowledge that it has a better funding settlement coming from the Scottish Government, and it has the opportunity to raise council tax and a visitor levy, so it should be taking rural library closures off the table. The Deputy Presiding Officer: You need to conclude, Mr Ruskell. Mark Ruskell: I was going to go on to refer to what Paul Sweeney said about arm’s-length companies and Glasgow Life, but I will leave it there. We need to restore confidence. The budget could be the first step towards that, but there is still work to do. 16:38”
“They are often the last free, warm and open facilities that are genuinely accessible in communities. Once those buildings are gone, they are gone. The cabinet secretary needs to look at councils’ reliance on arm’s-length companies for the delivery of leisure and culture services. That has certainly been the case in Perth and Kinross, where there has been overreliance on council funding through Culture Perth and Kinross. Perth and Kinross Council has not adequately funded the fair-pay policies that needed to be passed on to library staff. As a result, CPK is in a dire financial state. The council needs to properly fund CPK.”
“We have talked a bit about Stirling; the Tolbooth venue in Stirling has a wee space that hosts an audience of just 30 people. That is great for new and emerging artists who have perhaps never done a gig before. They need a small intimate venue in which to ply their trade and get confidence to go on and achieve great things. I welcome the fact that Green councillors in Glasgow City Council have been successful in getting cross-party support for the introduction of a stadium levy for council-controlled music venues. I look forward to progress on that. I turn briefly to the plight of councils. Murdo Fraser mentioned the protest that we both attended and spoke at on Saturday, which was about rural communities wanting to stop the cuts to their rural libraries. We have to recognise that many such libraries are co-located with arts venues.”
“Set against a crisis in which, across the UK, every week last year one grass-roots music venue shut down, we need to find ways to support that sector. One way would be to look at the application of a visitor levy. Another option, which the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture has spoken about with me and Patrick Harvie on a number of occasions, would be the national introduction of a ticket levy. Paul Sweeney: Will Mark Ruskell give way? Mark Ruskell: I do not think that I have time. If we consider last year’s Taylor Swift “Eras” tour, for example, we can see that a levy of just £1 on each ticket for the three Edinburgh concerts would have raised £200,000 for our grass-roots music venues. It is those venues that create the big stars of the future.”
“It is really important that the funding is felt by those organisations, which often survive on relatively small amounts of money but do incredible work. I am heartened to hear that the work of the culture collective will be brought back, because there are some really innovative organisations operating under that umbrella. A real wellspring of innovation will arise from that, and we can learn a lot from such networks of community cultural organisations. I welcome the fact that the Government has announced a 40 per cent relief for hospitality venues, which is particularly welcome when we consider the plight of grass-roots music venues. There is an issue about the £51,000 threshold, because there is a small number of city centre venues that will not benefit from that rates relief.”
“We are now decades on from the Christie commission, which had a whole agenda on preventative spend, but we are yet to make significant progress in areas such as mental health, education, community development and restoration of our communities. However, there are organisations that create communities. They include Sistema Scotland, which Evelyn Tweed spoke passionately about; DCA in Dundee, which Maggie Chapman talked about; the Stove Network, which was mentioned by Colin Smyth; and Creative Stirling, which was an incredible driver of innovation throughout the pandemic. Those organisations are the driving force and beating heart of our communities, and they support and uplift the most vulnerable people.”
“Alex Cole-Hamilton talked about the shadow of uncertainty that has hung over many artists and projects throughout the long years of austerity and continues to hang over them in the post-Covid funding environment. We need to restore confidence in the sector. Neil Bibby characterised the approach as a bit of a hokey cokey, whereby funding has been committed to, then withdrawn, then brought back in again. I agree that that has been unhelpful. I hope that the budget that is being proposed this year will start to build back confidence again. I also welcome the Creative Scotland review, which will be led by Dame Sue Bruce. I hope that the review will be wide ranging and look to get culture out of the silo that it is sometimes seen as being in. As Maggie Chapman said, culture projects have the capacity and the power to heal, uplift and inspire.”
“This afternoon’s debate has offered a rare opportunity to take the temperature of the culture sector in this post-Brexit, post-Covid world. I hope that the budget that is proposed by the Scottish Government marks the start of the end of the austerity that the culture sector has been suffering over a number of years. The Scottish Greens welcome the uplift of £34 million in the draft budget this year and the commitment to a further £20 million next year. I hope that it marks the start of Creative Scotland offering meaningful multiyear funding to organisations that have been struggling for years. Those organisations have to continually reinvent themselves in order to try to secure core funding, when they should be getting on with delivering creative projects that would be successful if only they could get that money.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: I am afraid that we have exhausted any time that we had, so members will now have to stick to their speaking time allocation. 15:48”
“Through them, rural communities from Strathblane to Killin, and Fallin to Aberfoyle, are being connected in new and exciting ways. We must thank volunteers whose contributions to culture in Scotland are invaluable, and ensure that funding processes are streamlined and easy to navigate to ensure take-up. Investment in arts and culture is an investment in Scotland’s people and future. Scotland’s approach to cultural investment sets us apart from the rest of the UK, where austerity measures have resulted in cuts to culture. As we look ahead— The Deputy Presiding Officer: You need to conclude. Evelyn Tweed: —we must build on our proud legacy of cultural investment, ensuring that Scotland remains a leader in cultural accessibility, inclusion and creativity.”
“Stirling Pride, which was held for the first time in September, is another example of culture bringing communities together. The event featured music, theatre and art workshops, while businesses and charities hosted inclusive activities. Feedback from the event highlighted demand for more regular LGBTQ+ events across Stirling, particularly in rural areas. Organisers have already responded by securing funding for a rural pride tour, bringing cultural activities such as ceilidhs, concerts and film screenings to smaller communities. Rural Scotland is disadvantaged when it comes to access to arts and culture, but by addressing barriers such as cost, accessibility and transport, those events will ensure that cultural opportunities are truly inclusive.”
“Does Evelyn Tweed agree that it would really help if Stirling Council brought in a visitor levy? If we had a visitor levy in the city, we would be able to invest in so many of the incredible cultural organisations that we have, from the Smith to the other bodies that she mentioned. Evelyn Tweed: That is a lever that is open to the council, and probably one that should be considered. As I was saying, Creative Stirling is an amazing local organisation, and its work bridges the gap between grass-roots creativity and wider community engagement. That ensures that urban and rural Stirling remains a hub of cultural activity. I cannot forget the amazing work that all those organisations did during the pandemic, which really kept local people going.”
“To ask the Scottish Government how the needs of pupils with additional support needs are taken into account in the procurement and replacement of the school estate. (S6O-04176)”