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
Post-d: sarah.boyack.msp@parliament.scot
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 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 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.
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: 20 September 2023
Scotland’s Nature
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "Will the minister take an intervention?"
Chamber meeting date: 14 September 2023
Paris Climate Agreement (UN Global Stocktake Report)
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "The Scottish Government has consistently failed to live up to our climate targets, which is bad news for the 38 per cent of households living in fuel poverty whose energy bills have increased…
Chamber meeting date: 13 September 2023
Short-term Lets Licensing Scheme
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "I draw attention to my entry in the members’ register of interests as a former employee of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations…
Chamber meeting date: 7 September 2023
Temporary Accommodation and Social Housing (Edinburgh) (Government Support)
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "I declare an interest, which is my former work with the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations. There has been a series of cross-party meetings this year on the urgent issue of Edinburgh’s housing crisis. It needs leadership and funding…
Chamber meeting date: 7 September 2023
NHS Lothian (Edinburgh Eye Pavilion)
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "The First Minister will be aware that the new eye pavilion in Edinburgh has suffered delay after delay…
Votes
How Sarah Boyack has voted in Parliament
Find out how Sarah Boyack has voted recently.
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Result 83 for, 27 against, 3 abstained, 16 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Protecting Specialist Neonatal Services in Lanarkshire
Submitted by: Jenni Minto, Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Supported by: Michael Matheson, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Result 63 for, 50 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Protecting Specialist Neonatal Services in Lanarkshire
Submitted by: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, September 18, 2023
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Result 63 for, 50 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Protecting Scotland's Nature
Submitted by: Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, September 18, 2023
Supported by: Paul Sweeney, Mercedes Villalba
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Result 63 for, 50 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Protecting Scotland's Nature
Submitted by: Lorna Slater, Lothian, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Supported by: Neil Gray, Richard Lochhead, Gillian Martin
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Result 63 for, 50 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not 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: 20 September 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how its Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill interacts with extended producer responsibility for packaging."
Answer expected on 4 October 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 September 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its reported plans to amend the Energy Performance (EPC) system, what consideration it has given to how to deal with properties that are off grid, and whose EPC rating may change depending on gas costs, and whether any such properties will be penalised."
Answer expected on 4 October 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 5 September 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government when the Green Heat Finance Taskforce will publish its final report."
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 20 September 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 5 September 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Green Heat Finance Taskforce has completed its work."
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 20 September 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 September 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how many active working groups there are that fall under the remit of the Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy portfolio."
Answer expected on 3 October 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 September 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how many active working groups there are that fall under the remit of the Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands portfolio."
Answer expected on 3 October 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 September 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how many active working groups there are that fall under the remit of the Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition portfolio."
Answer expected on 3 October 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 4 September 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to ensure that public buildings that have been built with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete are safe to be used."
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 19 September 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 4 September 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many public buildings in Scotland have been built with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete."
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 19 September 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 4 September 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware of the safety concerns regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete."
Holding Answer by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 19 September 2023