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 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.
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?"
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…
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee meeting date: 19 January 2023
Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "It is excellent to have you with us today. I have a follow-up question. In June last year, we had a very good visit to Brussels. We need to follow up, rebuild and reset our relationships…
Votes
How Sarah Boyack has voted in Parliament
Find out how Sarah Boyack has voted recently.
Budget (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Supported by: George Adam, Tom Arthur, Richard Lochhead, Ivan McKee, Lorna Slater, Nicola Sturgeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 2, 2023
Result 68 for, 56 against, 0 abstained, 5 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Three Years On - Brexit and Workers’ Rights
Submitted by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, January 30, 2023
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Result 24 for, 96 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Three Years On - Brexit and Workers’ Rights
Submitted by: Richard Lochhead, Moray, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, January 30, 2023
Supported by: Tom Arthur, Ivan McKee, John Swinney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Result 90 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Revision to Business Programme
Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Supported by: Alexander Burnett, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Pam Gosal, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Ross, Sue Webber, Tess White
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Result 51 for, 67 against, 0 abstained, 11 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Business Programme
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Supported by: Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Murdo Fraser, Jamie Greene, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Roz McCall, Liz Smith, Sue Webber
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Result 54 for, 66 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what support it has put in place for student housing cooperatives."
Answer expected on 10 February 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on increasing the (a) number and (b) capacity of student housing cooperatives."
Answer expected on 10 February 2023
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered providing financial support to community organisations impacted by increasing fuel bills."
Answer expected on 10 February 2023