Question Time

FÖRSTE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions today will be answered by Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed, Minister Lotta Edholm, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson, and Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren.

A question must be of an overarching and general political nature or concern a subject that falls within the minister's area of responsibility and concerns his performance of duties. Minister for Health and Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed answers both general political questions and questions within his own area of responsibility.

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Malin Larsson (S)

Mr. Speaker! I have a question for Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren.

Yesterday, we could read in the media about how one of the government's leading representatives engaged in illegal eel fishing – illegal fishing of a species that is endangered. This is serious. The eel population has decreased by 90-95 percent during the last 50-year period. Furthermore, the Prime Minister's State Secretary lied to the authorities' inspectors and then to the police. It has also been shown that it was not a one-time occurrence but something that has been ongoing for many years.

What does the Minister think it sends for signals when one, as a representative of the Swedish government, engages in illegal fishing of the eel, which is threatened with extinction?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Malin Larsson for the question. I will not go into details, because I do not know the details. I know approximately as much as the Member of Parliament. But this is obvious. I have seen what has been written and what the State Secretary in question himself has stated. This was wrong, and he will have to pay for it and receive his punishment.

Question Time

Eel fishing in Sweden has a very long tradition, but it applies, just as the member is pointing out, that it occurs in a legal manner and that we safeguard the small, limited eel fishing that we have left. Sweden has fought for this, even in an EU context, under both the previous Social Democratic government and this government.

Of course, it is never okay to break laws and rules.

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Malin Larsson (S)

Mr. Speaker! I naturally hear what the Minister says. The Prime Minister's State Secretary, however, chose to lie, first to the authorities' inspectors and then to the police. How are we to be able to save the eel if we have representatives of Sweden's government engaging in illegal fishing while our law-abiding fishermen and fishing associations do everything they can to save the eel and this cultural heritage? Without eel, no eel fishing. It is that simple.

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Malin Larsson for the follow-up question. I do not have much more to comment on this. The State Secretary in question has accounted for it, and Malin Larsson has heard my comment. I can state, just like the member, that we shall fish for eel only in a legal manner.

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Patrick Reslow (SD)

Mr. Speaker! I address my question to Minister Lotta Edholm.

In Expressen on Sunday, two liberal ministers stated that the government is now ramping up the work against honor oppression to combat separatism and prevent clans and clans' control of children, young people, and adults. According to the article's authors, interventions were needed from the start when children enter preschool and school, because "the school should be a place where language, knowledge, and education are in focus, not religious practice or oppressive norms."

The Sweden Democrats have, since entering the Swedish Riksdag, advocated for a ban on the value-driven veil in preschool and primary school, as this is the ultimate sign of precisely oppressive norms. Against the background of what is highlighted in the article, I would therefore like to ask the Minister the following: When can we expect an investigation and upcoming legislation on a ban on the veil in preschool and primary school?

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! Patrick Reslow raises one of the most important issues of freedom in Sweden, namely honor-based oppression, which affects primarily young girls but also boys in Sweden. It is incredibly important that we work hard to curb this.

Unfortunately, I have no answer to Patrick Reslow's question. There is currently no planning in the Government Offices to appoint such an investigation as Patrick Reslow requests.

But the work against honor-based oppression will now be intensified by this government. That this is one of our most important freedom issues in Sweden is an opinion that I believe many in this chamber now share.

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Patrick Reslow (SD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer.

Right now, women in Iran are fighting with their lives at stake to escape wearing the veil. No one should say that a child is capable of making their own decisions about wearing a veil. That is not the case; rather, this is a compulsion exercised from the parents' side. Is it not time that we protect these vulnerable girls' right to be just girls by banning the veil in preschool and primary school?

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! There are no plans whatsoever today to appoint any such investigation. On the other hand, there is a large and important work against honor-based oppression, which means that girls are not allowed to decide over their own lives. We must continue that work, and this government also intends to do so.

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Hanna Gunnarsson (V)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Defence. It is currently a very hectic time for those of us who are defence politicians due to the serious situation we find ourselves in. One of the issues that we need to keep high up on our own agenda is personnel issues. Today, I want to focus a little on the reserve officers and their conditions. We are building a total defence, and we need very many different personnel groups that make up part of it. Many are actually volunteers. In the Home Guard, in the voluntary defence organisations, or as a reserve officer, one devotes a portion of their time to stepping in and helping out.

I would like to hear a little about how the government views the reserve officers' conditions, salaries, compensations, and right to leave of absence. Where does this issue stand in the government's work today?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Hanna Gunnarsson, for the question!

The Swedish Armed Forces' personnel supply is the most important issue right now as we are in a strong growth phase for the Swedish Armed Forces. It is both about the fact that we will need more conscripts, where the Swedish Armed Forces has suggested that we might have a doubling of the number of conscripts from 5,500 today up to approximately 10,000, and more officers. We will also need more reserve officers.

The Swedish Armed Forces' basis from November 1, which is also the basis for the Defence Preparation Board where Hanna Gunnarsson herself sits and is to work on the issue, also proposes that the Swedish Armed Forces should have a larger number of reserve officers.

When it comes to wages and benefits, Hanna Gunnarsson knows that since 1994 this has been delegated from the government to the agency and the parties in the labor market. We therefore do not usually enter into those questions. Generally, however, I can state that good conditions for the employees are very important when the Armed Forces are to grow.

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Hanna Gunnarsson (V)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Minister for Defence, for the answer, and thank you for that personnel issues are so important in this policy area right now!

I naturally agree that wages are set by the parties in the labor market, but I believe it is important that the government is actually clear in this case. Many reserve officers are organized in an association that sets quite high demands on what needs to be done now and points it out very clearly. I would really like to urge the government to review these issues and take action on them.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you again, Hanna Gunnarsson! This is urgent, and as said: The basis from November 1 indicates that it will be necessary to use more reserve officers.

I can state that the Armed Forces in the basis from November 1 also point out that personnel supply and good conditions for the employees is an important issue, and it can be about employment conditions. ÖB's daily order in August also pointed out that it is necessary to review the personnel conditions, so I perceive that there is an awareness within the Armed Forces of how important these issues are.

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Kerstin Lundgren (C)

Mr. Speaker! While we sit here, Ukraine is preparing for a Russian spring offensive and a new Russian aggression. We constantly hear that while we are thinking, Ukrainians are being shot. They think we are taking too long.

Ukraine is defending itself and our values, and they are doing so in an incredibly impressive and sacrificial way. But they must also be able to take back their occupied territories, and it is good that the government has now announced a large package to Ukraine. Archer is good, but when will Archer arrive? That type of resources were needed during the spring offensive, not for the summer.

When, Minister for Defence, will this happen?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Kerstin Lundgren, for the question! I appreciate Kerstin Lundgren's deep commitment to Ukraine, a commitment that I share.

Regarding the support to Ukraine, the government has been clear that we will also transfer more advanced defense materiel to Ukraine. Therefore, we have now announced the largest package ever to Ukraine. It is worth 4.3 billion and includes, on the one hand, combat vehicles 90, which are basically ready to be sent to Ukraine after we have completed the training effort. The other announcement is that we are giving a mission to the Armed Forces to also begin upgrading Archer B, which are in storage.

What is the delay on Archer is the upgrade work. Here we have also worked incredibly hard with third countries, because it concerns technology transfers. I cannot say today exactly when Archer will arrive in Ukraine, but the government is working hard on it. We have also given a mandate to the Armed Forces to develop a roadmap for this work.

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Kerstin Lundgren (C)

Mr. Speaker! The Stridsfordon 90 is good, but we had a meeting in the Committee on Foreign Affairs today with our sister committee in Ukraine, and they say Lemur. They need tanks that can also retake territory and break through.

Many countries are talking about this today. I hope that Sweden does not pass on these issues without also being prepared to step up as one of several to ensure that the Ukrainian defense receives Lemur.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! Lemur is a reinforcement weapon that has been attached to Archer before, a part of an advanced form of machine gun.

Let me put it this way: Now we are making a commitment with CV90, and to the other six countries that use CV90, we have proposed that we shall work together. It could involve shared responsibility for logistics, education, and training.

I do not exclude tanks, but right now on the ground combat vehicle side, the focus is on getting CV90 to Ukraine as soon as possible.

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Ulf Holm (MP)

Mr. Speaker! That the energy issue is also a security policy issue is obvious to most of us. That Sweden's energy system has its shortcomings and that we need a supply of new energy is also obvious to most of us.

Many of us who live in southern Sweden and in Skåne think that we must do everything to bring more to Sweden to secure needs and lower prices. Unfortunately, there is one authority that stands out and which almost always consistently says no to all expansion of offshore wind power, namely the Armed Forces. In nine out of ten cases, the Armed Forces veto new establishments. This has caused Sweden to lag far behind, for example, the NATO countries USA, Denmark and Germany when it comes to the expansion of offshore wind power.

The defense forces in these countries do not seem to see all the problems that the Swedish Armed Forces see. I would therefore like to ask the Minister of Defence what measures he and the government will take so that the Swedish Armed Forces, just like in, among others, Germany and Denmark, can be more constructive in finding solutions for the placement of the very important offshore wind power.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! We find ourselves in a very serious security policy global situation, and we have a strong need for a large growth of our defense capability.

The Armed Forces have indicated that wind turbines can affect their operational capability. When it comes to land-based wind power, I know that the Armed Forces say no to less than 10 percent. When it comes to offshore wind power, it is more frequent, which I am very well aware of.

A study from FOI has been presented, which was commissioned and pointed out that it would be necessary to have a dialogue in early processes. I have held a dialogue with the Armed Forces and other relevant parties regarding this, but let me nevertheless emphasize the seriousness of the security policy situation and the importance of enabling a rapid growth of the Armed Forces.

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Ulf Holm (MP)

Mr. Speaker! I would like to thank the Minister of Defence for the answer and for the fact that there are ways forward to tackle the problem of the Armed Forces consistently saying no to the expansion of offshore wind power. It is possible in other countries such as Germany and Denmark, which are members of Nato and which also have the need for a defense policy operational capability. It cannot be unique to Swedish defense to tackle that problem.

I look forward to the Minister for Defence returning to the Riksdag with an announcement on how to proceed in this matter to find a solution for more offshore wind power.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! We naturally have a close dialogue with the Armed Forces and other relevant stakeholders connected to this. I want to remind once again of the importance of giving the Armed Forces the best opportunities to be able to grow. It is important in the serious security policy situation.

If better and more efficient processes can be found, I do not rule this out, and by reason of what Ulf Holm raises, there may be reason to return to the question. Otherwise, I also refer to the excellent energy study which I believe was an important step forward in precisely the issue of processes.

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Helena Bouveng (M)

Mr. Speaker! Ukraine's cause is our cause. Therefore, it is very pleasing that the government today has presented a new large support package to Ukraine.

By supporting Ukraine, we are helping the Ukrainians defeat Russia while simultaneously strengthening our own security. Other countries, such as the USA, the UK and Germany, are also increasing their support by sending advanced materiel in the form of combat vehicles and air defense.

From the Swedish side, the support package consists of, among other things, CV90, Archer B and Robot 57 - a focus on ground combat if I understand the whole thing correctly. What effects does the Minister for Defence hope this support package will provide?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! In the previous support package that we presented in November, the focus was on air defense and winter equipment. We actually sent winter equipment to over 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers. We sent air defense systems because Ukraine was, and is, subject to long-range strikes across all of Ukraine.

The Ukrainians themselves point out, when I have had a dialogue with them, and also with our partner countries, that they now need ground combat vehicles. This concerns both tanks and combat vehicles. It is in light of this that one should see the significant Swedish commitment of nearly fifty CV90s.

Let me also say that it is important with long-term and sustained support for Ukraine. It is also important that Ukrainian authorities have better conditions to purchase defense materiel from Sweden, and therefore the decision that we have presented today regarding support from FMV to Ukrainian authorities for the procurement of defense materiel is very important.

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Helena Bouveng (M)

Mr. Speaker! The military support package is both large and extensive. The Minister speaks of perseverance. Will the government, despite the large package, proceed with further support to Ukraine, and is there more defense materiel that Sweden can send without our own defense capability being negatively affected?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! It is an important question. In the balance between national defense capability and the possibility of supporting Ukraine, I generally consider that support for Ukraine is an investment in our own security.

Alongside the transfer of more qualified defense materiel, to which there is not unlimited availability, we are also putting increased effort into various types of training missions for Ukrainian soldiers. We have extended the mission that the previous government launched, namely participation in Interflex in the United Kingdom. We will also contribute to the EU-led training mission Eumam Ukraine.

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Camilla Mårtensen (L)

Mr. Speaker! The Tidö Agreement states the following: "Implement a uniform and common digital infrastructure for Swedish healthcare that replaces and complements the existing infrastructure of the 21 regions."

It is a very good and much-needed ambition. To improve patient safety, reduce administration, and improve cooperation between the different levels of care and healthcare providers is a prerequisite for addressing the problems in healthcare.

As former chairman of the board at Skåne University Hospital and a member of the committee handling Skåne's digital healthcare system, I know what enormous resources have been invested in the different regions - both in terms of personnel and finances. I guess it looks the same across the whole country.

My question to Minister for Social Affairs Forssmed is: How does the government plan to take part in and continue the work that has already been carried out in the country's various regions?

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Camilla Mårtensen for the question.

There is a major problem in Sweden in that there is no functioning national infrastructure for health data. If one compares it to the road network, one could say that there is a road network that does not reach all the way to the healthcare providers, and there are also no signs on site that say exactly how it is to be done on the network. There are double problems for the infrastructure.

We are currently working intensively on the issue. There are a number of investigations working now, and it is a matter of putting together a good whole and conducting a dialogue with those who have already made major efforts and investments in Kommun- och Regionsverige. I am well aware of that, and it is clear that we shall try to take advantage of this.

At the same time, we can observe that voluntary cooperation, which has prevailed until now, has not been sufficient. It is required that the state plays a larger role in this context. That is also the ambition we have.

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Camilla Mårtensen (L)

Mr. Speaker! I am pleased to hear that you plan to conduct a dialogue in view of the work that has already been initiated in some regions.

From my horizon, I wish to send a flare, namely to continue the work with one of the projects that have been started – a pilot project. Possibly, it would be a question of continuing the work that has been carried out in Skåne and Västra Götaland.

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I truly look forward to working on these issues. This is one of those matters where we can seriously and fundamentally improve Swedish healthcare, make it easier for the staff, and make it safer for those receiving care.

In an EU context, we will now lead the work on the European health data area. It will also be very exciting. I look forward to working with this, and I am happy to engage in a dialogue even in the future.

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Sofie Eriksson (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question is also directed to Jakob Forssmed. It is a question of a general political nature.

On Friday, M, KD, L and SD said no to our proposal to introduce an electricity bill emergency fund that should help households and companies pay their electricity bills. We do not see it as meaningful to proceed, said the Moderate chairman of the Finance Committee to the media.

People are now receiving electricity bills well over 10,000 kronor. Many with already tight margins are affected. The right's election promises regarding high-cost protection have been broken. The electricity support that is instead being presented is many months delayed. Furthermore, everything is shrouded in darkness with secrecy.

At the same time, the Moderates in Malmö and Norrköping are putting forward a proposal for an electricity bill emergency. There, they consider it to be meaningful. How is it that the same parties make such different assessments at the municipal and national levels?

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the questioner for the question. It is incredibly important to get the electricity support in place and paid out as soon as possible. We have indications that the payments for the first electricity support will take place as planned in February. It is incredibly important. The support will be substantial; it is 55 billion that goes out to Swedish households. It is very important.

I am also glad that the increased housing allowance can remain in place for a period ahead. The deferral for companies that are hit hard by increased electricity bill costs is extended, and a gas support is introduced for households that have also been affected in that way. It is very important.

We have also announced a new support measure that covers Norrland, so that they will also receive support. In this vulnerable situation, we are looking particularly at the conditions in Norrland with a colder climate.

The government is working hard to get this out as quickly as possible. As I understand it, there have not been practical conditions to implement such a proposal. In that case, it is particularly pleasing that it looks like the payments can be made according to the plan that the government has presented.

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Beatrice Timgren (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Rural Affairs.

In December last year, it was decided that the ban on fishing for aalfish should be extended by an additional three months. The Minister has previously stated that this will be implemented in the best possible way to safeguard a careful fishery.

When I speak with the eel fishers, they are very concerned that the three months will occur during the summer months. According to the eel fishers, it would mean that it would become very difficult to conduct commercial fishing.

How will the government work to ensure that it will also continue to be possible to conduct commercial fishing?

In a statement on December 13, the minister said that the Swedish position in the negotiations was that an additional three months of fishing moratorium were not needed, but that there are other ways to protect the eel. What other ways did the minister want to see?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! As the member knows, the quotas in the EU are negotiated together with many other fishing quotas.

Eels are fished in many different ways throughout the European waters. We fish and take up the large eels. One kilogram of eel in Sweden is usually one eel, while one kilogram of glass eel somewhere else in Europe is significantly more eels.

We had that dialogue with the commission. We also got it in that we would be given the opportunity to place the three months during a certain period. But it is clear that there may be some impact, but depending on when we place these months, the government's ambition is that it shall also in the future be a limited and sustainable salmon fishing.

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Karin Rågsjö (V)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Social Affairs Forssmed.

The previous government, after much back and forth, appointed an inquiry into the narcotics policy. The purpose of the inquiry is to ensure that the narcotics policy is compatible with the requirements for evidence-based care, proven experience, harm minimization, and so on.

The Public Health Agency, SKR, the Joint Morbidity Investigation, researchers and political parties have all previously pointed out that legislation on the criminalization of personal use needs to be investigated in this inquiry. Now it did not happen - the previous government chose to skip it, quite simply.

My question to the Minister for Social Affairs is whether an additional directive will be included to investigate how the criminalization of personal use has affected the current situation within the narcotics area, this being in consultation with the Ministry of Justice.

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the question. It is a very pressing issue to discuss.

How can we best ensure that as few people as possible end up in drug addiction and that as many as possible receive the help they need when they find themselves in that situation? This is, among other things, what is to be reviewed by the investigation that has been appointed.

The government does not have an ambition to decriminalize drugs for personal use. However, we are, of course, following the investigation. I think it is a very important task that it has.

One of the assignments is to propose, and if so how, care and support measures can be offered in a more systematic way to those who are convicted of minor drug offenses.

Another assignment is to review the healthcare component within the sanctions for drug offenses. I also think that is very important.

The investigation also takes an international perspective to see how different methods have been organized to achieve exactly this: to ensure that as much care as possible is offered to individuals while simultaneously preventing people from falling into abuse.

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Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)

Mr. Speaker! I would like to ask a question to Minister for Education Lotta Edholm.

In today's school system, there is no direct link between schools' compensation and their responsibilities. The schools and principals who have the greatest responsibility to ensure that all students in the entire country have a school to attend do not necessarily receive compensation for taking on this responsibility, even though the responsibility entails costs. In practice, some schools therefore receive more pay than they should and others less than they should. It is a systemic error that must be changed, and quite quickly.

The previous government was too one-sided in its proposals, and therefore there was no change during the last mandate period. But we need to quickly achieve an actual change for the best of Swedish schools.

That is why I want to ask the Minister for Education if she is ready to - preferably jointly here in the chamber - establish a new resource distribution for Swedish schools.

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the question.

One of the most important tasks in the area of schools for this government is to strengthen equality in our school system. We have too great differences, not least between how much different municipalities invest in their schools.

There are, of course, great differences in the municipal mandate. We have some municipalities that are very large in area with few students. We have municipalities with large socio-economic challenges and so on. Nevertheless, we have major problems with equality.

Therefore, the government will now appoint an inquiry concerning a national school fee norm. An important starting point in that work will be the inquiry that submitted its report a couple of months ago, which concerns the nationalization of the Swedish school. But this is a very important and pressing issue for the government.

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Rebecka Le Moine (MP)

Mr. Speaker! The other day, Minister for Rural Affairs Kullgren stood here and read out that the government shall counteract species extinction. However, it is clear that the government is doing the opposite, both in policy and in action.

It may not be a coincidence that the government stops talking about harsher punishments and law and order when the anti-extinction activist P.M. Nilsson, also a State Secretary, is caught fishing up the critically endangered eel.

The government is also conducting a species extinction policy, where they fight for the eels to continue being crushed in hydropower turbines and to try to shorten the time when the eel is protected.

What are you going to do to strengthen the protection of the salmon against your own species extinction activists in the Government Offices? And do you still have confidence in them despite one having committed a species protection crime and also lied to the police?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I have answered that question via Malin Larsson, and I have no other answer than the one I had then.

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Oskar Svärd (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Lotta Edholm.

Completing primary school and studying at upper secondary school is one of the best insurances we can give Sweden's children and young people. A good education creates opportunities to study further at universities but also to reach self-sufficiency at a faster pace.

I represent the inhabitants of Örebro County and, before entering the Riksdag, I worked with school issues locally. There, the results have improved in large parts, however, not sufficiently.

The differences across the country regarding eligibility for upper secondary school are large, both between municipalities within the counties and between the counties.

My question, Mr. Speaker, is the following: How does the government intend to strengthen the Swedish school so that more students become eligible for upper secondary school?

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Oskar Svärd, for this question! It is very extensive.

One could say that the very starting point for the government's work is precisely how we are to ensure that more students leave primary school with eligibility for upper secondary school and how we are to ensure that those students who are very good in school become even better.

What is happening now is that we are reviewing, for example, curricula. New curricula have just entered into force. We will review the Skolinspektionen's possibilities to inspect schools, issue orders to those schools that do not comply, and so on.

It feels like a very short time to answer this question, but it is this government's entire focus how we can improve the school results for the students who have the very greatest problems. It is enormously important.

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Mats Wiking (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question is also addressed to the Minister for Education.

The staff in the school is absolutely crucial for the children's future. A school that has order and structure, qualified teachers, and a principal who has the staff's trust is a school where the students thrive and achieve good results.

The state has made investments in teachers' salaries through, among other things, the Teacher Salary Boost (Lärarlönelyftet) and created career paths through senior teachers (förstelärare). These have been good investments in teachers that have at least partially stopped the large exodus of teachers.

Sveriges Skolledare, which is the union for principals, describes, on the other hand, an everyday life with increased documentation, a sharp increase in the number of subordinates, and a pressure on the school to solve problems that are not always school-related. Sveriges Skolledare argues that this has resulted in a tougher work environment and caused the turnover of principals to increase significantly. Statistics show that a few years ago, a principal stayed for five years at the same school. Today, the average is unfortunately down to two years.

I would like to ask the Minister for Education the following question: What does the government intend to do to reduce the turnover of principals in primary school and upper secondary school?

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the question! These are enormously important questions that Mats Wiking raises. How can the working environment be improved, for example? Often, the questions are of the same character both for principals and for teachers.

We will now, among other things, appoint an inquiry into the administrative burden in schools. I believe that very many in this chamber have heard of this and also themselves, not least as parents, encountered the problems that exist with this in schools. Within a fairly short time, we will also present proposals for a professional program for teachers and principals where it becomes clearer how one can, for example, be able to gain access to different types of continuing education and so on. But I share Mats Wikings' view that it is a major problem for Swedish schools that principals stay for a short time in their positions.

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Tobias Andersson (SD)

Mr. Speaker! I have a question for the Minister for Rural Affairs. We are both enthusiastic hunters and have both been met with the, in my opinion, justified criticism regarding the ban on lead shot. Now I know that the implementation of this lies with Minister Romina Pourmokhtari, but the effects of the same undeniably affect the countryside.

Many of us have had hunting with us since childhood and appreciate the variety it offers, and also specifically lead shot hunting. From all appearances, it may soon be a mere memory. In practice, it will result in more animals suffering unnecessarily, weapon owners left with unusable weapons, forest owners who have to discard logs containing steel shot, and so on. Can the Minister, in his answer, alleviate the concern that the countryside feels today regarding the lead shot ban?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Tobias Andersson, for the question! It is true that the lead shot ban that has now been decided is more far-reaching than the relatively extensive lead shot ban that we already had from before in and around our wetlands. The big difference is the definition of wetlands, where the EU uses the definition that exists in the so-called Ramsar Convention.

What we have previously communicated regarding this is that we know that hunters, generally speaking, want to follow the rules. They want to do the right thing, and then the authorities must also make it as easy as possible to do the right thing. We have a long series of ideas and thoughts on how it should proceed, but nothing is clear yet, but we will get back as soon as possible. I hope that this can calm some worried hunters. Not least, we do need to ensure that one knows where the lead shot ban applies and where it does not. We hope that we will be able to clarify that.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Amanda Lind (MP)

Mr. Speaker! I direct my question to Jakob Forssmed.

In the budget for 2023, the government chose not to extend important funds for folkbildning. It concerns nearly 500 million for folk high schools and study associations for temporary initiatives, ranging from asylum seekers learning Swedish to enter the labor market to important courses that the folk high schools have to, among other things, meet the needs of skills supply.

Now we see fatal consequences of this decision. Folk high schools are forced to shut down activities. Study associations are forced to lay off people. It concerns measures that are so important for integration - issues that this government says it wants to safeguard.

My question goes to the Minister for Social Affairs: Why did the government choose to do it in this way, and does the government intend to act in the coming years to minimize the harmful effects of this reduction?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Amanda Lind, for the question! Important efforts are being made, not least by folk high schools. We know from experience that they have functioned very well in times of crisis. And even the other efforts being made are important.

These measures have been just temporary measures. It has been decided that they should exist for a limited period. Often they have a connection with the pandemic and what society went through then. These were special measures specifically in connection with this. This is, therefore, a background to why they have not been extended. It was intended from the beginning that they should be temporary.

But as we now enter new periods of strain on the economy, one should always consider different types of measures. This can naturally be such a measure when we are hit again in various ways, not least as a result of the war in Ukraine, the electricity crisis, and other things. There are therefore reasons to consider this moving forward.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Marie-Louise Hänel Sandström (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Education Lotta Edholm.

Unfortunately, mental ill-health is increasing more and more among children and young people. According to a study by Socialstyrelsen, it has even doubled among students between 10 and 17 years old during the last ten years. It is actually seen that one in ten students has a mental ill-health.

We also know that preventive work is very important. We must work health-promoting and preventive and make early interventions. Here, school health plays an important role. There are also many other important factors, but school health is something that students can encounter in school every day.

We also know that it is crucial for the students' future and well-being to receive early and adequate help from the school. In some schools, the student health services function well. In some, they function less well. There is a very large difference. Often, it is cooperation and accessibility that are the biggest concerns.

My question to the Minister for Education is: How does she want to improve or change student health, so that we get better student health and can more easily help these students at an early stage?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the question! Yes, this is a major and important issue in our schools and naturally also outside of school. The mental ill-health among children affects entire families. Therefore, this issue is also included in the Tidö Agreement.

We are going to appoint an inquiry into student health and how it should be organized. Even there, it is about issues of equality, just as the member was touching upon. It looks very different, and we know that a student health service that functions effectively and has good cooperation with the rest of the school can also play a major role when it comes to promoting mental health and also actually when it comes to school results. I look forward to being able to give directives to that inquiry eventually.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Lena Johansson (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister of Defence Pål Jonson.

I want to begin by quoting the former Minister of Defence Peter Hultqvist: It is on the front line between Russia and Ukraine that the struggle between democracy and dictatorship is taking place. Therefore, the support for Ukraine is extremely important.

Against the background of today's press conference and the government's announced support package to Ukraine - a support package which includes, among other things, combat vehicles 90, anti-tank weapons including NLAW, as well as the artillery system Archer - I would like to ask the following question to Defense Minister Pål Jonson: How does the Defense Minister assess that the defense materiel proposed to be included in the announced support package to Ukraine will affect Sweden's defense capability?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks, Member, for the question!

I said myself in my speech in Sälen that support for Ukraine is to invest in our own security. Ukraine now constitutes the shield that Europe needs. Putin will not stop until someone stops him, so we shall do everything we can to support Ukraine.

The support package that we presented today was based on a basis from the Armed Forces when it comes to NLAW, CV90, and the mine-clearing equipment. One must constantly take into account that we are making new acquisitions. It was also a message that the government came with today: We will make additions, because we will indeed be depleting the Armed Forces' war organization despite knowing that we need a stronger defense. We must therefore purchase new defense materiel, and the government signaled that it will also do so.

The message from the government is therefore that in the long term, this will not affect our defense capability as we are making supplementary acquisitions.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Anna-Lena Blomkvist (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Drug use is a major problem in Sweden, both among young people and among adults. During recent years, the number of young people who report experience of drug use has remained at a relatively stable level, but at the same time, the development among those who frequently use drugs shows a certain increase in more frequent use. At the same time, there are long queues to HVB and Sis-homes in Sweden.

It is becoming increasingly important that we, from a political standpoint, identify those young people who use drugs at an early stage in order to counteract a heavy and lifelong addiction, an addiction that most often leads to severe mental ill-health and to tragic life destinies.

I am pleased that the Sweden Democrats and the Tidö parties are prioritizing this important issue. Drug use must be countered strongly, both considering the individuals who use drugs and considering the societal and economic savings that this leads to.

How does Minister for Health and Social Affairs Forssmed view the fact that we must be able to counteract heavy dependency among young people and catch the young people in time?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, the questioner Anna-Lena Blomkvist, for the question! This is incredibly important. Early interventions and being able to contact student health services on the day you need it is particularly important and something that we will work for together, among others Sverigedemokraterna and the government.

It is about shortening the queues to child and adolescent psychiatry. Because it is not only that the substance abuse in itself can lead to mental health issues, but it can also be the other way around: that mental ill-health can lead to substance abuse and to self-medication in various ways. This is very urgent.

I am glad that we in the Tidö Agreement establish that one should receive coherent care and treatment if one has an addiction. It is very important, because today it does not function well enough out in the country. There we also have the Comorbidity Inquiry, which has submitted its basis, and we have the sitting Narcotics Inquiry.

I look forward to working on achieving a better job.

It is also about being tougher against those who sell drugs to our children.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Lars Johnsson (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren. Currently, this year's license hunt for wolves is underway. Today, however, license hunting is not permitted in the southern predator management area. As a reason, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency states that the southern predator management area is a dispersal area for the wolf.

At the same time, we know that the wolf population in the country has for many years exceeded the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's own reference value for a favorable conservation status. We also know that there are at least three wolf territories in the southern parts of the country – there are probably more than that. There is therefore a lack of supporting arguments for protecting the wolf population in the southern parts of the country.

My question to the Minister for Rural Affairs is therefore whether the government will take any initiative to ensure that trophy hunting of wolves becomes possible even in the southern predator management area during the upcoming trophy hunt 2024.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Lars Johnsson, for the question! I have myself visited both hunters and farmers who are concerned about the wolf's spread in an area that has not had wolves, in an area where the livestock are much denser than they are, for example, where I live, in Värmland, where we are used to having many wolves. I understand that concern.

This government wants to develop the management of the large predators, and I will continue to work towards lowering the wolf's protection status in the EU's regulations. If we succeed in that, moving the wolf from Annex IV to Annex V, it would enable, for example, an increased protection hunt. Sweden would then be able to decide to a greater extent itself how the wolf should be managed.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Markus Selin (S)

Mr. Speaker! The front between democracy and dictatorship is in Ukraine. Ukraine must, with the full support of the united democratic world, win the war.

The Social Democrats have supported, and want to continue to support, Ukraine humanitarily, economically and militarily. The Moderates locked themselves in firmly in August. A high tone was struck against the then Social Democratic government regarding sending off just one of many weapon systems: the Swedish-developed high-tech artillery system Archer.

During a press conference today regarding a new support package for Ukraine, Archer is mentioned again – but continued preparations and more time are required.

In a more unifying time and spirit, I wonder: Does the Minister for Defence have anything self-critical to say regarding this today?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you for the question, Markus Selin! And thank you for your commitment to Ukraine! I appreciate that we have strived to have a broad political consensus when it comes to the support for the weapons packages. We had that when I worked in opposition, and I have now also made an effort to inform the opposition regarding this.

When it comes to today's package, the focus was on the CV90, because that we can send here and now. But we have also said that our ambition and our intention is to send Archer to Ukraine, because it is an artillery system that the Ukrainians are really demanding. My assessment is that we will manage to resolve that. Then I have also been clear that it is dependent on support that we will receive from third countries when it comes to a technology transfer. Since we have received positive signals about that, we could issue today's announcement.

Our intention and our ambition is therefore to send Archer to Ukraine as soon as possible. The Ukrainians are well deserving, and it is a very advanced artillery system that could really make a difference in Ukraine both through its range and through its precision.

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Johnny Svedin (SD)

Mr. Speaker! I have a question for Minister Jakob Forssmed. The government, together with the Sweden Democrats in the Tidö Agreement, has specifically highlighted the issue of strengthening mental health to achieve better public health in Sweden. The Sweden Democrats want, together with the other Tidö parties, among other things to see that a specific national research program is developed. Together, we also want to accelerate and strengthen suicide prevention work. Furthermore, we agree that psychiatry plays an incredibly important role in contact with all persons who are suffering.

At today's press conference, the minister spoke about that an investigation regarding a so-called accident commission is underway, which is very pleasing for the Sverigedemokraterna, who have been involved in pushing the issue. The minister also spoke about reducing the stigmatization surrounding mental ill-health.

Another way to reduce stigmatization could, for example, be that psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses can be included as a normal staffing component within the health centers. Today, work is being actively done to strengthen primary care. Primary care is then to take a larger share of health and medical care, according to the primary care reform, so to speak.

Has the minister reflected on whether and how psychiatry might potentially be implemented as a part of the close care concept?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Johnny Svedin, for the question! This is extremely important. Today, the government made a decision on an investigation into the establishment of a commission for accidents in cases of suicide, so that we can do better in the future than we do now regarding suicide prevention work.

I agree with the questioner that we must incorporate mental health into more activities in a clearer way. It could be about primary care. It could be about school health care and other things. It is about this way of thinking and this competence being present already in the first line that meets people in different ways. Because we know that many who seek help at a health center also have, or just have, psychiatric issues.

In the work with good and close care, this has been particularly investigated. I look forward to continuing to look at this, among other things at this investigation, and in other ways to move the work forward to strengthen Swedish health and care and the work for mental health.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Jytte Guteland (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren. Swedish agriculture has had problems. We see that we are facing a green transition. At the same time, we have seen that the Swedish Board of Agriculture has had problems paying out production subsidies to farmers on time. This has been reported in the media. It is primarily young, family-run, and organic farms that are extra dependent on these production subsidies being paid out on time. These farmers are also cogs in the green transition within agriculture.

We know that the European Court of Auditors has also said that the climate policy within the common agricultural policy is deficient and even very weak. That is why it is important that these farmers receive their support in a timely manner.

I therefore wonder what the Minister intends to do to speed up the processes and resolve these problems within the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Jytte Guteland for an extremely urgent question. No one wants granted support to be delayed. And I truly empathize with those who have been affected by this. Many times it is tight margins and large expenses, not least in light of the recent price developments on many input goods – fertilizer, fuel and so on. It is extra important.

I have visited the Swedish Board of Agriculture, and a large part of the conversations I have had with the management have been about how they work to ensure these processes and that they do not end up in this problematic situation. Work is ongoing, and they are extremely eager to resolve the problems that have occurred. I truly hope that they do. And I will, of course, follow up on this.

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Björn Söder (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The issue of strategic acquisitions has escaped no one since the reports from, among others, Finland arrived. But we have also been able to see this here in Sweden with a Russian real estate purchase at the entrance to the naval base at Muskö, real estate purchases at the airport in Västerås, and so on.

The Swedish Defence Research Agency wrote in a recently published report that it is not possible to determine the total extent of Russian ownership in the vicinity of Swedish protected sites or other facilities important for the total defence, this against the background that proper control tools are simply lacking.

The committee directive regarding control during the transfer and disposal of property of essential importance to the total defense shall be reported by no later than 1 February 2024. This means that a legislative proposal may be delayed until 2025. In our opinion, this is too late given the significantly deteriorated global situation, but also by reason of the fact that there are no concrete figures, only estimates.

Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister of Defence if he intends to take any measures to ensure that we can have a legislative proposal in place earlier.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Björn Söder for an important question.

We can observe that the intelligence threat against Sweden has increased over time and also that we have a significantly worsened security policy situation. In that case, one cannot be naive.

Here, a number of legislative tightenings have occurred. Tightenings have occurred regarding the Security Protection Act but also regarding the Protection Act. It is fundamentally good. We are also open to doing what we can to tighten other legislation.

We also have a dialogue with the relevant authorities regarding how the work with the implementation of this work is progressing. But I have no new updates today linked to moving forward the investigation that Björn Söder brings up. But the question itself is urgent in light of the increased intelligence threat against Sweden. It also has a strong connection, not least to foreign direct investments in critical infrastructure, where we have new legislation in place and also extensive EU cooperation now.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Emma Ahlström Köster (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Lotta Edholm.

Just before Christmas, it was clarified that students all over Sweden will also continue to be able to play their instruments in the cultural school during school hours.

The realization that students who, for example, live far from the school in the countryside do not have the opportunity to travel to activities in the afternoons and evenings has contributed to the fact that one has changed their mind in this discussion that has been ongoing throughout the entire previous year.

Of course, leave to participate in the culture school must be granted and assessed for suitability against the individual and their school situation. But it still makes it possible for this to continue.

I wonder: Does the Minister agree that it is positive that the Swedish school now allows culture school students to play their instruments during school hours?

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the question. I must admit that this issue is quite new to me. Naturally, I have followed it in the media previously, but I have not familiarized myself with it. But if the issue is solved in a practical way, this seems reasonable.

It is important that children and young people are able to pursue their leisure interests, to learn to play instruments and so on. But it is naturally also important that this does not encroach on school time in the sense that one cannot do this during lesson time.

But I will really make an effort to familiarize myself with this issue a bit better.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Niklas Sigvardsson (S)

Mr. Speaker! Every student has the right to good learning materials that teachers themselves have the opportunity to choose and adapt specifically to their teaching and their student group. But across the country, the equality today is far too poor.

In a survey from Läromedelsförfattarna, 5 percent of Sweden's principals state that they spend only 208 kronor per pupil and school year on teaching materials, while the 5 percent who state that they give the most give as much as 1,957 kronor per pupil and school year.

The government's initiative on learning materials is laudable, but it unfortunately risks only becoming a bookkeeping measure, where the municipalities simply book the purchase of learning materials to a different account. Unfortunately, it will not be noticed by either students or teachers.

Therefore, I want to ask Minister Lotta Edholm how the government intends to proceed with the proposals in the Läromedelsutredningen and when we can see concrete proposals on the floor of the Riksdag, since there are no traces of this in the submitted list of government bills.

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Niklas Sigvardsson for a very important question that concerns very many students: How shall we ensure that our students in Sweden's schools receive good and relevant learning materials?

It is, just as Niklas Sigvardsson says, large differences. Therefore, this government is investing more than half a billion kronor every year during the coming years to ensure that our students receive good learning materials.

We are currently working at the Ministry of Education on the question of how these funds should be distributed. Of course, there is the risk that the member points out, that the money disappears to something else. But I actually have great confidence that our municipalities will see that this is an important issue and that good learning materials actually contribute to the knowledge results in Swedish schools.

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Åsa Westlund (S)

Mr. Speaker! The Liberal Party's party leader, Minister Johan Pehrson, wrote in Expressen over the weekend that the Liberals want to ban religious independent schools on the grounds that the Liberals cannot accept that a single school in our country hinders integration and restricts students' freedom.

I was very happy when I read this, because it means that a government in which the Liberals are included must present proposals for a ban on religious independent schools.

My question to School Minister Lotta Edholm is therefore: Will the government now present a proposal to stop religious independent schools, or do these tough words from Minister Pehrson actually mean nothing?

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the question.

It is no secret that the Liberals have pushed this previously – against other parties, of course. We now have an agreement in the Tidö Agreement on the issue. The legislation will be tightened. It has already been tightened on two occasions. And we are now giving the School Inspectorate, for the first time, a mandate that applies to the entire school system to review, for example, violence-promoting extremism and Islamism. And it is now important that the School Inspectorate takes this mandate and ensures that we get a school system where religious extremism and other extremism actually cannot exist. It is important that the school remains free from this and that also all schools that are confessional are actually reported to the School Inspectorate as being just confessional so that parents and students can choose if they want a school with a confessional orientation.

Question time was hereby concluded.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)