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
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Substitute Member
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Sarah is a member of 17 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
Member
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 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 Sustainable Transport
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Taiwan
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Wellbeing Economy
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 Energy
Scottish Labour
Party Spokesperson on Just Transition
Scottish Labour
Party Spokesperson on Net Zero
Scottish Labour
Previous roles
Sarah has had 39 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
17 June 2021 - 25 April 2023
Constitution Europe External Affairs and Culture Committee
Member
22 September 2021 - 25 April 2023
Local Government Housing and Planning Committee
Substitute Member
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Party Spokesperson on the Constitution
Scottish Labour
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Party Spokesperson on External Affairs
Scottish Labour
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Party Spokesperson on Culture
Scottish Labour
01 March 2021 - 04 May 2021
Party Spokesperson on Environment
Scottish Labour
01 March 2021 - 04 May 2021
Party Spokesperson on Climate Change
Scottish Labour
01 March 2021 - 04 May 2021
Party Spokesperson on Land Reform
Scottish Labour
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
02 September 2019 - 01 March 2021
Party Spokesperson on Local Government
Scottish Labour
05 February 2020 - 25 February 2020
Finance and Constitution Committee
Substitute Member
10 September 2019 - 11 September 2019
Local Government and Communities Committee
Member
06 January 2015 - 23 March 2016
Policy Forum/Manifesto Co-ordinator
Scottish Labour
19 August 2015 - 23 March 2016
Party Spokesperson on Environmental Justice
Scottish Labour
08 January 2015 - 23 March 2016
Rural Affairs Climate Change and Environment Committee
Member
16 December 2014 - 19 August 2015
Party Spokesperson on Rural Development
Scottish Labour
16 December 2014 - 19 August 2015
Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish Labour
03 September 2013 - 08 January 2015
Local Government and Regeneration Committee
Substitute Member
19 December 2011 - 16 December 2014
Party Spokesperson on Local Government
Scottish Labour
19 December 2011 - 16 December 2014
Party Spokesperson on Planning
Scottish Labour
20 May 2011 - 19 December 2011
Party Spokesperson on Rural Development
Scottish Labour
20 May 2011 - 19 December 2011
Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish Labour
17 September 2007 - 22 March 2011
Party Spokesperson on Rural Development
Scottish Labour
17 September 2007 - 22 March 2011
Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish Labour
13 June 2007 - 20 September 2007
Rural Affairs and Environment Committee
Member
18 May 2007 - 17 September 2007
Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish Labour
11 January 2007 - 17 May 2007
Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development
Scottish Government
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
06 March 2003 - 31 March 2003
European and External Relations Committee
Member
31 October 2002 - 31 March 2003
Audit Committee
Member
26 September 2002 - 31 March 2003
Social Justice Committee
Substitute Member
29 November 2001 - 05 March 2003
European Committee
Member
07 March 2002 - 27 June 2002
Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Bill Committee
Member
21 March 2001 - 28 November 2001
Minister for Transport and Planning
Scottish Government
02 November 2000 - 21 March 2001
Minister for Transport and Telecommunications
Scottish Government
19 May 1999 - 01 November 2000
Minister for Transport and the Environment
Scottish Government
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 Friends of the Earth Scotland.
I am a member of the Edinburgh Solar COOP.
I am a member of Spokes - The Lothian Cycle Campaign.
I am a member of The Cooperative Party.
I am a member of both Unison and Community Trade Unions.
I worked as a temporary and part time lecturer at Heriot Watt University teaching Planning and Environmental Studies from September 2016 until March 2017.
I am a Vice President of the European Movement in Scotland.
On 5 December 2023 I received a gift of a food hamper valued at approximately £150 from Community Windpower Ltd (Godscroft Lane, Frodsham, Cheshire, WA6 6XU). The gift was to me as an individual. [Registered 21 December 2023]
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: 27 March 2024
Renewable Energy Sector (Economic Impact)
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "I, too, congratulate Audrey Nicoll on securing this important debate. It could not be more timely. I have lost count of the number of meetings that I have had with the renewables sector, from large companies to community and co-operative projects…
Chamber meeting date: 20 March 2024
Cultural Cinema
2. Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support the development of cultural cinema. (S6O-03217)"
Chamber meeting date: 20 March 2024
2030 Climate Change Targets
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "The Committee on Climate Change’s report is a damning indictment of the Scottish Government’s lack of progress on achieving net zero. SNP and Green rhetoric has not been matched by action. It is not just me who thinks that…
Chamber meeting date: 20 March 2024
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "I welcome today’s debate, because Scottish Labour strongly supports the principle of legislation on the circular economy…
Chamber meeting date: 13 March 2024
General Practitioners (Training and Recruitment)
8. Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further details of the progress that it is making towards fulfilling its 2017 commitment to increase the number of GPs by 800 within a decade. (S6O-03197)"
Votes
How Sarah Boyack has voted in Parliament
Find out how Sarah Boyack has voted recently.
Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, February 12, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Result 89 for, 0 against, 31 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Widening Access - Equality of Access to Higher Education
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 25, 2024
Supported by: Natalie Don, Jenny Gilruth
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Result 69 for, 49 against, 1 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Widening Access - Equality of Access to Higher Education
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, March 25, 2024
Supported by: Clare Adamson, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Result 22 for, 97 against, 1 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Widening Access - Equality of Access to Higher Education
Submitted by: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Result 31 for, 69 against, 20 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Defeated
Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Jim Fairlie, Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 18, 2024
Supported by: Mairi Gougeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 21, 2024
Result 85 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP voted for
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: 15 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to allocating £80 million on carbon capture, utilisation and storage, in light of no provision being made in the Budget for 2024-25."
Answer expected on 29 April 2024
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to each NHS board in each of the last three years to support an increase in the provision of insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors."
Answer expected on 10 May 2024
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 10 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in implementing its Diabetes Improvement Plan."
Taken in the Chamber on 17 April 2024
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 5 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what the average number of working hours was spent on processing an environmental impact assessment (EIA) request for screening under section 8 of the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 in (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021, (d) 2022 and (e) 2023."
Answer expected on 3 May 2024
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 5 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what the average time was for a response to a scoping opinion request submitted under section 12 of the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 in (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021, (d) 2022 and (e) 2023."
Answer expected on 3 May 2024
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 5 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what the average number of working hours was spent on processing an environmental impact assessment (EIA) scoping request under section 12 of the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 in (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021, (d) 2022 and (e) 2023."
Answer expected on 3 May 2024
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 5 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for electricity generators under 50MW were submitted to planning authorities under the Electricity Act 1989 in (a) 2015, (b) 2019, (c) 2022 and (d) 2023."
Answer expected on 3 May 2024
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 21 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards the creation of an offshore training and skills passport."
Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 April 2024
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 4 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of patients with diabetes it anticipates will be offered the option to transfer to a hybrid closed loop system as part of their insulin management during the financial year 2024-25, broken down by NHS board."
Answer expected on 2 May 2024
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 4 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on achieving priority 8 of its Diabetes Improvement Plan "to accelerate the development and roll-out of innovative solutions to improve treatment, care and quality of life of people living with diabetes"."
Answer expected on 2 May 2024