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
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 and Communities Committee
Deputy Convener
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Sarah is a member of 6 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Co-Operatives
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Cycling, Walking and Buses
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Fair Trade
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on International Development
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Rail
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Sarah does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Sarah has 1 party role
Party Spokesperson on Local Government
Scottish Labour
Previous roles
Sarah has had 28 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
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 the Environment
Scottish Labour
17 September 2007 - 22 March 2011
Party Spokesperson on Rural Development
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
Conveners Group
Member
10 June 2003 - 15 January 2007
Environment and Rural Development Committee
Convener
04 June 2003 - 10 June 2003
Environment and Rural Development Committee
Member
26 September 2002 - 31 March 2003
Social Justice Committee
Substitute Member
31 October 2002 - 31 March 2003
Audit Committee
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
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 17 September 2019.
Remuneration and related undertaking
Prior to my return to Parliament, I worked as Head of Public Affairs for the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Sutherland House, 149 St Vincent St, Glasgow G2 5NW. I worked part time for the first three weeks from February 2017, then full time from March 2017. I left the post on 12th 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. [Registered 1 May 2020]
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 worked as a temporary and part time lecturer at Heriot Watt University teaching Planning and Environmental Studies from September 2016 until March 2017. [Registered 9 December 2020]
I am a member of the Edinburgh Solar COOP [Registered 9 December 2020]
I supported the Proposed Mediation (Scotland) Bill. I have a family member who is the Director of Scottish Mediation which is supportive of the Bill. [Registered 9 January 2020]
I am a member of Spokes - The Lothian Cycle Campaign
I am a member of both Unison and Community Trade Unions
I am a member of Friends of the Earth Scotland
I am a member of The Cooperative Party
I am a Vice President of the European Movement in Scotland [Registered 9 December 2020]
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: 26 January 2021
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "Small businesses are facing extraordinary times…
Chamber meeting date: 20 January 2021
Covid-19 (Support for Students)
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "NUS Scotland published research last week showing the shocking levels of debt that students experience, which have been made worse by the pandemic…
Chamber meeting date: 20 January 2021
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "I am glad that we are having the debate because I want, like others, to highlight that I have never received so many anxious and angry emails as I have recently. The debate deals with one of the topics that people have been writing to me about…
Chamber meeting date: 20 January 2021
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "Actually, I want to indicate that our group would like to abstain on this motion…
Local Government and Communities Committee meeting date: 20 January 2021
Sarah Boyack: "I want to make brief comments about the permitted development rights order."
Votes
How Sarah Boyack has voted in Parliament
Find out how Sarah Boyack has voted recently.
Prioritising COVID-19 Vaccination and Economic Recovery
Submitted by: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, January 25, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Result 65 for, 56 against, 0 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Prioritising COVID-19 Vaccination and Economic Recovery
Submitted by: Michael Russell, Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Supported by: Graeme Dey, Jeane Freeman, Jenny Gilruth, Mairi Gougeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Result 65 for, 56 against, 0 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Post-mortem Examinations (Defence Time Limit) (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Gil Paterson, Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Result 26 for, 90 against, 1 abstained, 12 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Culpable Homicide (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, January 21, 2021
Result 26 for, 89 against, 0 abstained, 14 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Result 96 for, 5 against, 18 abstained, 10 no vote
MSP voted for
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: 27 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government how the current benefits system can be used to support people who have been impacted financially by the COVID-19 pandemic and are currently not receiving the benefits that they are entitled to."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government how many carers have (a) applied for and (b) been awarded the £500 "thank you" bonus to date."
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 26 January 2021
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what financial support and other assistance it will offer people on low incomes to help them comply with its updated regulations on fire and heat alarms."
Answered by: Kevin Stewart on 25 January 2021
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Conditions Survey will be updated to include a question regarding the tolerable standards of people’s homes so that compliance with the updated regulations on fire and heat alarms can be monitored."
Answered by: Kevin Stewart on 25 January 2021
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the role played by unpaid carers during the COVID-19 pandemic, whether it will consider providing a "thank you" bonus through a Carer's Allowance top-up."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 18 January 2021, Extra funding to support unpaid carers, what information it has regarding how many unpaid carers there are; how many will be able to access the £750,000 being allocated, and what the average payment will be."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 18 January 2021, Extra funding to support unpaid carers, whether the £750,000 allocated to unpaid carers is new money and, if not, from which budget stream it has been sourced."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it is having with unpaid carers directly, and not through carers' organisations, to help ensure that their experience of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic helps inform the recovery from it."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 10 December 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will guarantee that the costs of moving to low-carbon heat will be fully met for households that are living in fuel poverty."
Answered by: Paul Wheelhouse on 18 January 2021
Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to monitor the inclusion of compliance with fire alarm standards in home reports."
Awaiting answer
See all of Sarah Boyack's written questions submitted in Parliament