Sarah Boyack
Scottish Labour
MSP for Lothian (Region) 2019 - present day
Former MSP for Lothian (Region) 2011 - 2016
Former MSP for Edinburgh Central (Constituency) 1999 - 2011
About Sarah Boyack
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6994
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Sarah is a member of 2 committees
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Sarah is a member of 18 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Bangladesh
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Circular Economy
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Co-Operatives
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Creative Economy
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Culture and Communities
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Europe
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Fair Trade
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Human Trafficking
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on India
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on International Development
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Malawi
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Nordic Countries
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Pakistan
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Palestine
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Scots Language
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sustainable Transport
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Taiwan
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Sarah has 1 parliamentary and government role
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Branch Executive
Member
Party Roles
Sarah has 3 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Culture
Scottish Labour
Party Spokesperson on External Affairs
Scottish Labour
Party Spokesperson on the Constitution
Scottish Labour
Previous roles
Sarah has had 15 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
25 September 2019 - 04 May 2021
Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Substitute Member
11 September 2019 - 04 May 2021
Local Government and Communities Committee
Deputy Convener
05 February 2020 - 25 February 2020
Finance and Constitution Committee
Substitute Member
10 September 2019 - 11 September 2019
Local Government and Communities Committee
Member
08 January 2015 - 23 March 2016
Rural Affairs Climate Change and Environment Committee
Member
03 September 2013 - 08 January 2015
Local Government and Regeneration Committee
Substitute Member
13 June 2007 - 20 September 2007
Rural Affairs and Environment Committee
Member
10 June 2003 - 15 January 2007
Environment and Rural Development Committee
Convener
10 June 2003 - 15 January 2007
Conveners Group
Member
04 June 2003 - 10 June 2003
Environment and Rural Development Committee
Member
31 October 2002 - 31 March 2003
Audit Committee
Member
26 September 2002 - 31 March 2003
Social Justice Committee
Substitute Member
06 March 2003 - 31 March 2003
European and External Relations Committee
Member
29 November 2001 - 05 March 2003
European Committee
Member
07 March 2002 - 27 June 2002
Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Bill Committee
Member
Register of interests
Sarah'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 Sarah Boyack. The date of their initial statement was 08 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
I worked as Head of Public Affairs for the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Sutherland House, 149 St Vincent St, Glasgow G2 5NW, part time for the first three weeks from February 2017, then full time from March 2017. I left the post on 12 July 2019 and was returned to Parliament on 15 July 2019. On 26 July 2019, I received a final salary payment of between £1,001 and £2,000 representing the outstanding salary owed to me.
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 a member of both Unison and Community Trade Unions.
I am a member of The Cooperative Party.
I am a member of the Edinburgh Solar COOP.
I am a member of Spokes - The Lothian Cycle Campaign.
I am a Vice President of the European Movement in Scotland.
I am a member of Friends of the Earth Scotland.
I worked as a temporary and part time lecturer at Heriot Watt University teaching Planning and Environmental Studies from September 2016 until March 2017.
Recent Activity
What was said
What Sarah Boyack 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.
Chamber meeting date: 2 February 2023
Budget (Scotland) (No 2) Bill: Stage 1
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "Will the member take an intervention?"
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee meeting date: 2 February 2023
Crisis in Ukraine
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "I go back to the issues of homelessness and housing. I direct members to my entry in the register of members’ interests…
Chamber meeting date: 31 January 2023
Brexit and Workers’ Rights
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "That is a bit ironic, given that David Lammy made a significant speech last week and our members have been banging the drum about the mistakes that the Tory Government is making. Mr Lochhead’s allegation of silence is totally inaccurate."
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee meeting date: 26 January 2023
Crisis in Ukraine
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "It is very good to see you today, consul. We appreciate the fact that you are telling us what feedback you got from Ukrainians who have come to Scotland. We tend to meet individual people, so to get general feedback from them is critical for us…
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee meeting date: 19 January 2023
Budget Scrutiny 2023-24
Sarah Boyack: "Cabinet secretary, you mentioned the issue of where the money will come from…
Votes
How Sarah Boyack has voted in Parliament
Find out how Sarah Boyack has voted recently.
Addressing the Crisis in NHS Dentistry
Submitted by: Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Result 53 for, 67 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Addressing the Crisis in NHS Dentistry
Submitted by: Maree Todd, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Supported by: Kevin Stewart, Humza Yousaf
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Result 67 for, 53 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Investing in the Future of Social Care
Submitted by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Result 21 for, 95 against, 4 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Investing in the Future of Social Care
Submitted by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Monday, February 6, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Result 67 for, 53 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Addressing the Crisis in NHS Dentistry
Submitted by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Monday, February 6, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Result 65 for, 55 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Sarah Boyack in Parliament
Find out what motions Sarah Boyack has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Sarah Boyack has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact in Scotland of the changes to the Energy Bills Discount Scheme due to take effect in March 2023."
Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 February 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact in Scotland of increased fuel bills."
Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 February 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to proposals from Midlothian Council to remove free musical instrument lessons for some pupils."
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 February 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 2 February 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will no longer need the MS Ambition beyond the current contract end date of 31 March 2023."
Answer expected on 2 March 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 2 February 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it plans to extend the contract for the MS Ambition beyond the current contract end date of 31 March 2023."
Answer expected on 2 March 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what the remit is of its data reconciliation project, as outlined in its publication, Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme in Scotland: statistics – December 2022."
Answered by Neil Gray on 31 January 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to make a decision on whether to establish a public inquiry into the 2014 and 2018 Glasgow School of Art fires, in light of the correspondence with the Scottish Parliament's Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, in 2022, and the reported ongoing concerns about the works to…
Answered by Angus Robertson on 31 January 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government which routes will see peak fare rail prices removed as part of the trial from April 2023."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 31 January 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government which routes will not see peak fare rail prices removed as part of the trial from April 2023."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 31 January 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to putting in place further discounts for students to access public transport."
Answer expected on 10 February 2023