Scottish Labour
MSP for Lothian (Region) 2019 - present day
Former MSP for Lothian (Region) 2011 - 2016
Former MSP for Edinburgh Central (Constituency) 1999 - 2011
Email: [email protected]
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6994
Text relay calls welcome.
Substitute Member
Substitute Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Convener
Deputy Convener
Member
Deputy Convener
Deputy Convener
Member
Member
Member
Member
Scottish Labour
Scottish Labour
Scottish Labour
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
17 June 2021 - 25 April 2023
Member
22 September 2021 - 25 April 2023
Substitute Member
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Scottish Labour
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Scottish Labour
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Scottish Labour
01 March 2021 - 04 May 2021
Scottish Labour
01 March 2021 - 04 May 2021
Scottish Labour
01 March 2021 - 04 May 2021
Scottish Labour
25 September 2019 - 04 May 2021
Substitute Member
11 September 2019 - 04 May 2021
Deputy Convener
02 September 2019 - 01 March 2021
Scottish Labour
05 February 2020 - 25 February 2020
Substitute Member
10 September 2019 - 11 September 2019
Member
06 January 2015 - 23 March 2016
Scottish Labour
19 August 2015 - 23 March 2016
Scottish Labour
08 January 2015 - 23 March 2016
Member
16 December 2014 - 19 August 2015
Scottish Labour
16 December 2014 - 19 August 2015
Scottish Labour
03 September 2013 - 08 January 2015
Substitute Member
19 December 2011 - 16 December 2014
Scottish Labour
19 December 2011 - 16 December 2014
Scottish Labour
20 May 2011 - 19 December 2011
Scottish Labour
20 May 2011 - 19 December 2011
Scottish Labour
17 September 2007 - 22 March 2011
Scottish Labour
17 September 2007 - 22 March 2011
Scottish Labour
13 June 2007 - 20 September 2007
Member
18 May 2007 - 17 September 2007
Scottish Labour
11 January 2007 - 17 May 2007
Scottish Government
10 June 2003 - 15 January 2007
Convener
10 June 2003 - 15 January 2007
Member
04 June 2003 - 10 June 2003
Member
31 October 2002 - 31 March 2003
Member
26 September 2002 - 31 March 2003
Substitute Member
06 March 2003 - 31 March 2003
Member
29 November 2001 - 05 March 2003
Member
07 March 2002 - 27 June 2002
Member
21 March 2001 - 28 November 2001
Scottish Government
02 November 2000 - 21 March 2001
Scottish Government
19 May 1999 - 01 November 2000
Scottish Government
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.
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.
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
From 16 to 18 October 2024, I visited Stuttgart, Germany to meet with representatives of the energy company, EnBW (Energie Baden-Württemberg AG, Durlacher Allee 93, 76131, Karlsruhe). The purpose of the visit was to find out more about the work done by EnBW in Germany and across the UK to learn lessons for GB Energy, and encourage more investment in Scotland. The programme also included meeting other political parties to discuss resetting and strengthening relationships with the EU. The cost of my accommodation, transport and meals during my time in Germany was £721.50, and was met by EnBW. [Registered 15 November 2024]
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
I am a Vice President of the European Movement in Scotland.
I am a member of Spokes - The Lothian Cycle Campaign.
On 9 August 2024 I attended the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo as a guest of Jason Barrett, CEO of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (1-3 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QB). The cost of the ticket was £445.00. [Registered 3 October 2024]
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.
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]
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.
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: 11 December 2025
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "I very much agree that the lack of action there has a cost. It is really important to look at it at a local level. Will the cabinet secretary comment on why we are not getting the same focus on the homes that are vulnerable to flooding…
Chamber meeting date: 10 December 2025
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "This debate provides an opportunity to focus on the lack of progress that the SNP Government has delivered in improving and maintaining transport infrastructure across Scotland. The cabinet secretary was keen to talk about progress on the A9…
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 3 December 2025
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "Part 3 of the bill provides a welcome opportunity for us to update Scotland’s national parks so that they can better respond to our nature and climate crises. The timing is really good…
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 2 December 2025
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "I want to ask about vicarious liability and focus particularly on companies…
Chamber meeting date: 27 November 2025
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes. It is not clear whether my vote has been lodged."
Find out how Sarah Boyack has voted recently.
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, December 11, 2025
Result 79 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 23 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Submitted by: Douglas Lumsden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Supported by: Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Douglas Ross, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Result 34 for, 89 against, 0 abstained, 6 did not vote
MSP voted against
Disagreed
Submitted by: Sue Webber, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 8, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Result 34 for, 87 against, 1 abstained, 7 did not vote
MSP voted against
Disagreed
Submitted by: Fiona Hyslop, Linlithgow, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Supported by: Jim Fairlie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Result 60 for, 60 against, 2 abstained, 7 did not vote
MSP voted against
Disagreed
Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Result 23 for, 98 against, 0 abstained, 8 did not vote
MSP voted for
Disagreed
Find out what motions Sarah Boyack has submitted recently.
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 10 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent ScotLand Futures report, which found that 96% of respondents believe that changes are needed regarding how land is owned and used, what steps it will take to ensure that land reform goes further than the current Land Reform (Scotland) Bill does to deliver land justice."
Asked by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards delivering its commitment made in the 2023 Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal to determine Section 36 applications for onshore wind projects in 12 months where there is no Public Local Inquiry and 24 months where there is one."
Asked by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made to deliver its commitment to collaborate on a consistent, evidence-based, proportionate national approach to measuring and evidencing biodiversity enhancements on onshore wind project sites, as set out in the Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal agreed in 2023."
Asked by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to achieving 20GW of operational onshore wind in Scotland by 2030 as set out in the Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal in 2023."
Asked by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure that Scotland can maximise the number of onshore wind projects that are eligible to bid for a Contract for Difference and can contribute to its ambition to achieve 20GW of operational onshore wind by 2030, as set out in the Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal agreed in 2023."
Asked by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has agreed a peatland compensation ratio for onshore wind projects, and, if so, whether it will publish the scientific evidence it used to inform that decision."
Asked by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report published in November 2025 by Eversheds Sutherland, Wind Energy Consenting: Increasing S36 Threshold to 100MW and Sector Deal Progress, which identifies that the current average timeframe for Section 36 determinations for onshore wind projects is 29 months without a Public Local…
Asked by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report published in January 2025 by climateXchange, Carbon Calculator for wind farms on Scottish peatlands: an evidence assessment, and what progress has been made to deliver against its recommendation that the carbon calculator, in its current form, should be updated."
Asked by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 9 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 November 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health will meet with beneficiaries of the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme and their families to discuss the impact of the decision to remove independent counselling grants."
Asked by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 9 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 October 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how it will monitor and evaluate the wellbeing outcomes of beneficiaries of the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme and their families following the withdrawal of independent counselling grants."