Ross Greer MSP

West of Scotland

External Affairs, Education & Skills, Culture & Media

Ross was Communities Co-ordinator at Yes Scotland, helping to develop the movement for independence. He is a member of Holyrood's European and Education committees. Ross is an active community campaigner on issues ranging from school closures to supermarket expansion and opportunities for young people. Upon election in May 2016 at the age of 21, Ross became the youngest MSP in the history of the Scottish Parliament. He was formerly a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament for Clydebank & MIilngavie constituency and led on the successful campaign to give 16 & 17 year olds the vote in the independence referendum.

Proposed FOI emergency law goes too far say Greens

Wed 1 Apr, 2020

Proposed changes to the way public bodies respond to freedom of information requests as part of emergency laws to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic go too far, the Scottish Greens have warned.

The party has confirmed it will seek to amend the legislation so that bodies cannot extend review periods, even after their deadlines to respond to requests has already been extended. If left unamended, this would result in a potential period of over 200 days before a public body needed to respond to a Freedom of Information request.

Accommodation providers must support students

Mon 30 Mar, 2020

The Scottish Greens have called on student accommodation providers not to ‘trap’ students who have had to leave their halls early due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Scottish Greens Education Spokesperson Ross Greer MSP has called on the providers, including Hello Student and IQ Student Accommodation, to follow the example of Unite Students and others and release students who are impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency from their tenancies.

Ross Greer MSP said:

Ross Greer: More questions than answers in SQA advice

Wed 25 Mar, 2020

Responding to new guidance issued by the SQA on coursework, Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer said: “This statement from the SQA answers the major question around coursework not being required, but in doing so it opens up so many more.

“How will those who’ve already submitted coursework and those who’ve not be treated equally? What will the criteria for teacher judgements of estimated grades be? Will there be a robust appeals system for young people who don’t get the grade they expected.

Scottish Greens propose free school meals continuation after closures

Wed 18 Mar, 2020

Free school meals for low-income families should continue in communities after schools close at the end of the week, the Scottish Greens have said.

A food network for Scotland’s most vulnerable children & young people

Ross Greer MSP Wed 18 Mar, 2020

Free school meals for low-income families should continue in communities after schools close. Here are our proposals:

A food network for Scotland’s most vulnerable children & young people

Numbers

According to information gathered in February 2018 260,842 children in Scotland were registered for free school meals. On the day that the take up of school meals was being measured take up was 188,247.

The average price of a paid for school meal is £2.38, and the average cost was £3.07.

Scottish Greens cancel spring conference

Thu 12 Mar, 2020

The Scottish Greens Executive Committee has this afternoon taken the decision to cancel the party’s Spring Conference in light of the ongoing coronavirus situation.

Scottish Greens Executive Co-Chair Ross Greer MSP said:

“Due to the ongoing coronavirus situation the Scottish Greens Executive Committee has today taken the decision to cancel our upcoming conference. The health and wellbeing of our members and the public is our primary concern and it is with that in mind that we have taken this decision.”

More than 5000 object to faslane radioactive waste plans

Wed 11 Mar, 2020

More than 5000 people have submitted objections to Ministry of Defence plans to increase the volume of radioactive waste dumped into the Gareloch, thanks to a campaign by local Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer.

Greer calls for urgent statement on Education stats

Fri 21 Feb, 2020

The Education Secretary must make an urgent statement to Parliament and answer questions from MSPs following his department’s shambolic handling of a report on the 2019 exam results, which was eventually published late last night, says Scottish Greens Education Spokesperson Ross Greer MSP.

Ross Greer MSP said:

“Publishing this report at 8pm on a Thursday night, after MSPs have returned to their constituencies, is a blatant attempt to avoid scrutiny.

Scottish Greens response to Tory immigration plans

Wed 19 Feb, 2020

Ross Greer MSP said:

“The racist immigration plans outlined by the UK Government today are appalling and will simply devastate the Scottish economy. Immigrants enrich our communities, they are our friends and neighbours, they staff our public services, and keep sectors like tourism and agriculture going. Yet again the Tories seem to have chosen a policy almost tailor-made to damage Scotland.”

SQA move quickly on human rights checks after Green concerns

Thu 23 Jan, 2020

Scotland’s exams body has moved quickly to clean up its overseas business after pressure from the Scottish Greens, it has emerged.

At the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee, the SQA confirmed a new system of human rights checks and appraisals would be in place from April. [1]

This comes after Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer repeatedly raised the agency’s relationship with government departments in Saudi Arabia.