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
Local Government, Housing and Planning 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
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
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.
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.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee meeting date: 22 September 2022
Scotland’s Census
Sarah Boyack: "Cabinet secretary, you refer to changes in society’s attitude, which you also referenced in your ministerial statement. How much work have you done on that issue…
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee meeting date: 22 September 2022
Pre-budget Scrutiny
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "It has been good to hear your powerful evidence today in addition to the submissions that we have had from lots of organisations…
Chamber meeting date: 21 September 2022
Short-term Lets Legislation
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "I refer members to my entry in the register of interests. While we have waited for the Scottish National Party Government to act on short-term lets, thousands of homes have been lost in Edinburgh…
Chamber meeting date: 20 September 2022
Tributes to Her Late Majesty the Queen
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "In his tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, President Emmanuel Macron said: “To you, she was ‘our Queen’. To us, she was ‘the Queen’…
Chamber meeting date: 8 September 2022
E coli
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "I am concerned about the E coli outbreaks that are being experienced in nurseries in Musselburgh, and my colleague Martin Whitfield has raised concerns about the outbreaks in Haddington…
Votes
How Sarah Boyack has voted in Parliament
Find out how Sarah Boyack has voted recently.
Excellence in Scottish Education
Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Supported by: Clare Haughey, Jamie Hepburn
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 29, 2022
Result 65 for, 50 against, 0 abstained, 14 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Addressing NHS Waiting Times
Submitted by: Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, September 26, 2022
Supported by: Sharon Dowey, Meghan Gallacher, Liam Kerr, Douglas Lumsden
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 29, 2022
Result 65 for, 52 against, 0 abstained, 12 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Excellence in Scottish Education
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 29, 2022
Result 29 for, 64 against, 23 abstained, 13 no vote
MSP abstained
Vote Defeated
Excellence in Scottish Education
Submitted by: Michael Marra, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Supported by: Paul Sweeney, Martin Whitfield
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 29, 2022
Result 51 for, 65 against, 0 abstained, 13 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Scottish Government Handling of Ferry Contracts
Submitted by: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, September 26, 2022
Supported by: Sharon Dowey, Liam Kerr
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 29, 2022
Result 64 for, 53 against, 0 abstained, 12 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Sarah Boyack in Parliament
Find out what motions Sarah Boyack has submitted recently.
Written questions
Written questions Sarah Boyack has submitted in Parliament
These are the questions that this MSP has asked the Scottish Government about its work. It also includes any answer to these questions.
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 28 September 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of recent (a) meetings, (b) telephone calls and (c) other communications it has had with COSLA to discuss funding support for Ukrainian refugees."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 28 September 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of recent (a) meetings, (b) telephone calls and (c) other communications it has had with COSLA to discuss housing need and availability for Ukrainian refugees."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 September 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation is carried out following the allocation of international development spending."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 September 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing to recruit and retain workers from the rest of the UK, and what targets are in place for any such work, broken down by each industry."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 September 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its scheme to provide free bicycles to children who cannot afford them."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 September 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will publish its refreshed Culture Strategy Action Plan."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 September 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that the UCI Cycling World Championships 2023 benefit local communities in Scotland."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 September 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that the UCI Cycling World Championships 2023 lead to increased cycling in Scotland."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 September 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what its current decision-making criteria are for international development spending."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26 September 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what the planned annual budget and FTE staffing expectation is for the Talent Attraction and Migration Service."
Awaiting answer
See all of Sarah Boyack's written questions submitted in Parliament