Tag: Sarah Boyack

‘Deeply Disturbing’: Boyack slams Scottish Government for failing the Lothians over housing crisis

Lothian MSP Sarah Boyack has slammed the Scottish Government as new statistics have revealed just how stark the current housing crisis gripping the Lothians is.

The Private Rent Statistics Scotland report, published by the Scottish Government, reveal that rents in the Lothian have seen the highest above inflation increases in rent for two bed properties of any area in Scotland.

The situation is equally alarming for one bed properties, with Lothian rents increasing by 14.4% in 12 months, compared with only a 0.3% increase in Greater Glasgow.

This has left Lothian with the highest average monthly rent for one bed flats anywhere in Scotland.

The same is true for 2 beds with the average rent in Lothian being £1358, the highest in the country.

The average rent across Lothian has increased almost 100% from 2010, from £520 to £1013 over the period.

The crisis prompted Edinburgh Council to declare a housing emergency in November 2023 highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the capital.

East Lothian Council declared an affordable housing emergency on the 12th of November this year after it was revealed they were likely to lose over 1200 affordable houses over the next five years.

Commenting on these stats, Sarah Boyack MSP said: “These figures are deeply disturbing but entirely unsurprising. Any tenant in Edinburgh is aware of just how much rents have spiralled out of control.

“I have been raising constantly with the Scottish Government about the state of the housing crisis in Edinburgh and the wider Lothians. I hope these statistics snap them out of their apathy.

“Edinburgh Council desperately needs more funding if we are ever to get on top of this problem.

“The Scottish Government must finally act and work with councils across Lothian if we are to finally start addressing this housing emergency rather than letting it escalate.”

Edinburgh MSPs unite to demand funding for new Edinburgh Eye Pavilion Hospital

A cross-party group of Edinburgh MSPs have come together to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Michael Matheson, highlighting the urgent need to fund a new Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh.

MSPs representing Scottish Labour, Scottish Conservatives, the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Alba, and the Scottish National Party have all co-signed the letter, in the run up to the capital spending allocation.

This letter reflects the strength of feeling of residents, right across Edinburgh towards the need for a new Eye Hospital in the city.

MSPs request Michael Matheson set out a clear timetable for the construction of a new Edinburgh Eye Hospital, after the current Eye Pavilion was declared not fit for purpose in 2014.

The MSPs have also called on Michael Matheson to consult with patients, visual impairment charities and elected representatives to achieve the best outcomes possible for Edinburgh and Lothian Residents.

The joint-letter follows a meeting of Edinburgh MSPs, Sight Scotland, Visibility Scotland and RNIB, at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 30th November, to discuss the situation in the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion.

During the meeting, MSPs heard moving testimonies from patients and staff about the dire state of current facilities and why a new hospital is so vital going forward.

All parties involved emphasised that continuing to rely on the current Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion is not sustainable and will lead to deteriorating outcomes for patients and staff.

The MSPs who signed the joint letter are Sarah Boyack, Daniel Johnson, Foysol Choudhury, Miles Briggs, Jeremy Balfour, Ben Macpherson, Sue Webber, Alex Cole-Hamilton and Ash Regan.

The MSPs in attendance at the breakfast briefing were Sarah Boyack, Daniel Johnson, Miles Briggs, Ben Macpherson, Sue Webber. Alison Johnstone and Jeremy Balfour sent staff members, as they had previous engagements.

Commenting on the letter, Sarah Boyack said: “I am glad that MSPs across Edinburgh were able to come together to campaign for such a vital project.

“None of our constituents deserve to be relying on facilities that have been designated not fit for purpose, for over a decade.

“Michael Matheson needs to take note of the strength of feeling for this project – delivering the new Eye Pavilion is a priority for Edinburgh Residents 

“As Edinburgh MSPs, we will continue to work together to ensure the best outcome for our constituents, and the city.”

Lothian-Joint-Letter-regarding-Edinburgh-Eye-PavilionDownload

Boyack: Scottish Government must commit to new Eye Pavilion

Following reports on the projected cost of Edinburgh’s New Eye Pavilion, rising by more than £10m,  Sarah Boyack, Scottish Labour MSP for Lothian, asked the First Minister “to reassure patients across the Lothians and South-East Scotland that Edinburgh’s Eye Pavilion will be priority for the Scottish Government.”  

Sarah Boyack called on the Scottish Government to commit that Edinburgh’s Eye Pavilion will be delivered by 2027.

Nicola Sturgeon restated her government’s support for this project, she did not, however, confirm that the new Eye Pavilion will indeed be delivered by 2027, raising questions about the expected operational date.

Commenting Sarah Boyack MSP said: “ We’ve seen the impact of inflation and rising costs – it’s catastrophic for people, businesses and development projects.

“Although I welcome Nicola Sturgeon’s commitment to Edinburgh’s new Eye Pavilion, I find worrying that she was unable to confirm that the new eye hospital will indeed be delivered and ready for patients to use by 2027.

“We cannot afford to delay the construction of the new Eye Pavilion – delaying it is bad for people, staff and our NHS.

“We have yet to hear the answer to a simple question: will the Eye Pavilion will be open to the public by 2027?

“The FM and her Government must provide that commitment now.”

Boyack calls for legal right to food as Edinburgh food bank use soars

Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack has said next year must be the year Scotland enshrines a statutory Right to Food in law, as figures show food bank use soaring in Edinburgh.

The Trussell Trust’s mid-year statistics show that the number of food parcels handed out in Edinburgh has soared by 35 per cent since 2017.

The number of parcels given to children has risen even more drastically, increasing by an appalling 77 per cent, with 10,378 parcels being given out in the space of just six months.

This includes a shocking 3,189 parcels for children in the City of Edinburgh whose parents need urgent support now. Its worrying that the number of these parcels has risen by 29 per cent since 2017.

Scottish Labour have said this proves there must be no more delays to the introduction of a legal right to food in Scotland.

Scottish Labour have long campaigned for a statutory right to food in Scots law. The SNP and the Greens both backed this policy in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, however in May the SNP-Green government voted against Labour’s attempt to introduce a Right to Food during the Good Food Nation Bill. 

Commenting, Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said: “As the cost of living crisis piles pressure on households, more and more people in Edinburgh are being forced to turn to food banks.

“Families are at breaking point and parents are struggling to feed their children.

“It is more urgent than ever that we enshrine people’s right to food in Scots law, but the SNP-Green government keep kicking the can down the line.

“There is no more time to delay – this year must be the year we embed the right to food in law at last.”

Trussell Trust Mid Year Statistics 2022-23 – 1 April 2022 to 30 September 2022:

Local Authority     Number of parcels for children Total number of parcels distributed Increase in parcels for children compared to 2017 Increase in total parcels compared to 2017 
Aberdeen City1,2733,57697%168%
Aberdeenshire1,2434,315143%149%
Angus3881,335-5%-29%
City of Edinburgh3,18910,37829%35%
Dumfries and Galloway5842,1622681%1088%
Dundee City2,6567,675200%139%
East Ayrshire1,0273,367115%116%
East Dunbartonshire9223,19573%67%
East Lothian2,0585,488217%197%
East Renfrewshire9932,81144%69%
Falkirk1,3344,27644367%3215%
Fife3,1768,397107%91%
Glasgow City6,27115,61413%5%
Highland1,3753,69154%13%
Inverclyde7103,00829%38%
Midlothian1,5353,073225%136%
Moray– –  
Na h-Eileanan Siar– –  
North Ayrshire6202,528-40%-26%
North Lanarkshire1,7334,805250%197%
Orkney Islands11239026%48%
Perth and Kinross1,1393,674125%64%
Renfrewshire1,3084,29013%2%
Scottish Borders10230410100%3700%
Shetland Islands172841  
South Ayrshire1,3294,016130%88%
South Lanarkshire2,7317,84895%73%
West Dunbartonshire– –  
West Lothian1,8005,316169%156%

*Figures compare 1 April to 30 September 2017 with the same period in 2022.

Source: https://www.trusselltrust.org/news-and-blog/latest-stats/mid-year-stats/