Question Time

TREDJE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions will be answered by Minister for Education Mats Persson, Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed, Minister Erik Slottner, and Minister Niklas Wykman.

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. Education Minister Mats Persson answers both general political questions and questions within his own area of responsibility.

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Åsa Westlund (S)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Mats Persson. Children's and young people's education is the most important investment society makes. It should be obvious for every government to stand on the side of students and teachers when their interests come into conflict with the interests of private school owners. But this government constantly takes the side of just the private school owners, now also in the matter of the principle of public access for private schools.

The principle of public access has for a long time been a part of our Swedish democracy. It has contributed to irregularities being able to be revealed by journalists and the public, and thus operations have been able to be improved. But the government and the Sweden Democrats want, therefore, that independent schools should be exempt from the requirements for openness that the principle of public access entails.

Why does the government always prioritize listening more to private school owners than to, for example, Sweden's teachers?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Åsa Westlund, for the question! A historic shift is now occurring in Swedish education policy. After eight years of talk about what we should do about the free school system, this government will now take measures that allow us to target the unserious actors while simultaneously ensuring that children and parents can make the decision about which school to choose at the kitchen table and do not need to leave that power to municipal bureaucrats or Social Democratic municipal councilors around the country. We ensure that the power remains at the kitchen tables but at the same time ensure that something is done about the short-term gains and the unserious actors within the free school sector.

I share Åsa Westlund's view that openness is important. The government will put forward a proposal that is very similar to that which applies within the framework of the principle of public access, but where we also safeguard the smaller friskolor's opportunity to exist and ensure that we do not place too many administrative burdens on them.

I therefore share Åsa Westlund's view. It is important with the principle of public access and transparency.

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Åsa Westlund (S)

Madam Speaker! Mats Persson himself voted no to the proposals that the previous government put forward in this area and must answer for that.

The principle of public access goes further than what the government wants to introduce for independent schools. Independent schools want responsibility for our children's and young people's future - for their entire period of education. It is a great responsibility, but they should not take responsibility for the principle of public access.

Why, Mats Persson, does the government want it to be more difficult to expose irregularities within private free school activities than within municipal school activities?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! It is important that parents and children get to choose school themselves at home at the kitchen table. It should not be something that municipal bureaucrats do. It is also important that we ensure we have a free school system where there is order and clarity.

Transparency is also important. When it comes to transparency, it is important that small and non-profit independent schools are not burdened with too much administration. The proposal that previously existed would involve too much administration, and therefore the government will come forward with a better proposal, which also takes the small independent schools into account.

I think this is much better politics, which ensures that we retain our freedom of choice and that we get order and structure in the friskolor.

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Rashid Farivar (SD)

Madam Speaker! Recently, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed met with a selection of the Muslim religious communities in Sagerska huset. United Islamic Associations in Sweden were represented by Mohamed Temsamani, previously involved in the Freedom and Justice Party in Egypt, a party with strong links to the Muslim Brotherhood. Temsamani is a supporter of the Islamist dictator Erdogan in Turkey and has also expressed himself positively about Islamism. He writes, for example, on Twitter: "If you want to try a true democrat, wait until a so-called Islamist wins an election and see what the person does & says #Turkey."

I would therefore like to ask Minister Jakob Forssmed what was discussed during this intimate meeting and whether the Minister was aware that representatives at the meeting belong to organizations that advocate for political, society-changing Islamism in Sweden.

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, member, for the question! This was a meeting that Ulf Kristersson and I had with a number of representatives for Muslim organizations in Sweden. I think it is very important to conduct this type of conversation and have a dialogue about issues important for Sweden and about what it is like to live as a Muslim in Sweden. Some perceive that they are persecuted or harassed in different ways.

A lot was discussed at the meeting, but one important issue was, of course, the Quran burnings. Both from the Prime Minister's side and from my side, we were very clear that it is not relevant to make any changes to Swedish freedom of speech; it applies. At the same time, the government has also been, and was also at this meeting, clear that everything that is permitted is not appropriate. It is not appropriate to burn books that people perceive as sacred. It is nothing that this government defends, on the contrary. But freedom of speech applies. On that point, there is no doubt.

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Rashid Farivar (SD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer! From a press release signed by BIS after the meeting, it appears that "tonight's short meeting gives the sitting government good conditions to address current problems as well as propose measures and action plans as soon as possible". Our Swedish freedom of expression is pointed out as a problem.

My question is: Which measures and action plans are referred to? The Sweden Democrats will never contribute to compromising the cornerstones of our Swedish democracy so that people who have chosen to move here feel offended.

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Madam Speaker! The Government has no interest in compromising on democracy and freedom of speech. These are central values for Sweden and the West, which have built our societies strong. This is very important.

But it is also important that people of different nationalities, ethnicities, and religions can coexist and that one can practice one's religion in a good and peaceful way together with others. Both the right to religion and the right to abstain from religion are very central. It is important to engage in dialogue with different religious orientations and religious communities so that this is possible for everyone in Sweden.

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Isabell Mixter (V)

Madam Speaker! The household economy is now strongly affected by the high electricity prices of recent times, and the Enforcement Authority is concerned that more and more private individuals and even companies are ending up with them due to unpaid electricity bills. For electricity area 3 and 4, support is now to begin being paid out during February, but we in Norrland in electricity area 1 and 2 have not yet been told anything at all about when the electricity price support will be paid out. The companies are under very heavy pressure, and the government is acting very sluggishly.

The application to the EU remains at the Government Offices according to information. It is, to say the least, unfortunate. Why is the government delaying this process? It could mean that more companies now go under. Therefore, I want to ask State Secretary Mats Persson: When will electricity support to households in Norrland be paid out, and when will electricity support to companies in southern Sweden be paid out?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the excellent question! This is a very important issue. Many people have struggled with heavy electricity bills this winter. There have been extremely high levels on the electricity bills.

After the energy policy failure we have seen over the last eight years, this government now has a lot to clean up. It is a failure that has meant that Vänsterpartiet, Socialdemokraterna, Miljöpartiet and Centerpartiet have stood behind the decommissioning of nuclear power plants in Sweden - Ringhals 1 and Ringhals 2. We are now seeing the consequences of that.

This should not be borne by the consumers. The government believes it is important that consumers receive back the vast revenues that have now arisen for Svenska kraftnät, and therefore this support will be in place as soon as possible. The support to private individuals in electricity area 3 and 4 will be paid out shortly, and the other supports will be paid in the near future further ahead. Work is being done as quickly as possible on this, and it will be in the near future.

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Isabell Mixter (V)

Madam Speaker! It is clear that the government is very stressed about this issue and is trying to shift the responsibility onto the previous government. But it is the government of the State Council that has broken its own election promises and now put the households in this very difficult situation. It was promised that the electricity support would be in place before Christmas, and we really cannot see that.

I want to ask again: When will households in northern Sweden receive electricity support, and when will it reach the companies? Why is the application to the EU still on your desk?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the question! It is very important to get this support in place as soon as possible. I meet many people who think it is good that support is now coming. There are many people who think that the electricity bills have been very high and that it has been, frankly, a scandal that the bills for December and January were as high as they were.

Now support is coming, and I meet many people who express joy that support is finally coming. One has to have a little patience, but soon it will be in place.

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Anders Ådahl (C)

Madam Speaker! My question also goes to Minister Mats Persson.

The other day, the government announced that it intends to tighten the conditions for labor migration. This applies to occupations with a salary below 33,200 kronor per month.

It is good that the government, like the Center Party, is working so that, for example, doctoral students and students at the country's colleges and universities can stay in Sweden. Competence from abroad is needed for our growth. We are facing a new industrialization - a new and necessary step in Swedish welfare.

But it is not enough to only strengthen high-paying occupations. The Swedish labor market is already falling apart on its knees. In healthcare, in the green industries, in retail, among professional drivers and among train drivers – everywhere the need for competent labor is very great. If Sweden is to manage the new industrialization, the rest of society as a whole must keep up.

How does the government intend to strengthen Swedish growth and welfare through labor immigration for occupations with a salary below 33,200 kronor per month?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the question! This is a very important issue. It is about ensuring that Swedish business has the opportunity to attract competence.

I believe it is important to keep two things in the air at the same time. On one hand, we need a regulatory framework that ensures people are not exploited and that we do not have that type of labor migration to sectors that do not have a need for labor migration and where people are exploited. That we need to say no to.

At the same time, we need a regulatory framework that ensures, for example, Swedish industry can recruit competence on an international market. This could involve companies in northern Sweden, as the member points out, or around our country that need specific competence.

That is why the government is looking at having different types of exceptions in certain industries. It could be about seasonal industries or other industries that deviate from the norm of 32,000. It is therefore important to ensure the industry's conditions; that is the government's view.

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Anders Ådahl (C)

Madam Speaker! I have a fresh example: In NU-healthcare - the area around Trollhättan and Uddevalla - we today have eleven nurses and ten doctors from non-EU countries who are employed and working to obtain Swedish certification. All these 21 people today have a salary that is lower than 33,200 kronor.

Is it the government's intention that we should meet the healthcare's screaming need for competence and hands by throwing these people out of the country and thus closing the door for labor migration to the healthcare sector?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I think it is important that the Centre Party is a bit self-critical in this situation. The policy that the Centre Party has pursued regarding pressing down the wage levels for labor migration has contributed to the situation we have, where people are being exploited.

With that said, it is important that we ensure the possibility exists to bring in people who have unique competence within the industry or in other sectors where there is a real need for competence.

It is a matter of having two things in the air at the same time: to ensure that we do not get too much labor migration in sectors where people are exploited, and at the same time to ensure that highly qualified competence can come here.

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Katarina Luhr (MP)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Erik Slottner.

In Dagens Samhälle in January this year, Minister Slottner announced that the proposed legal requirements that procurements shall take into account the climate aspect will be abolished. In the article, one can read that the Minister believes that sustainability requirements risk excluding companies from procurements.

Within the public sector in Sweden, goods and services are procured every year for over 800 billion - everything from cleaning services to tunnel construction. The National Agency for Public Procurement has calculated that the climate emissions from public procurement are over 23 million tons per year. This can be compared with the transport sector, which generates approximately 15 million tons. Setting sharp procurement requirements can therefore reduce climate emissions radically and transform entire sectors.

When yet another fundamental climate measure is scrapped by the government, I wonder how it will be replaced? What climate policy does the Minister for Civil Affairs have in their back pocket to compensate for yet another scrapped climate measure?

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Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member Luhr, for the question!

This is not a scrapped measure, but the government wants to wait for a while to have a holistic view of the procurement. Therefore, we are introducing more and more mandatory requirements. Regardless of which sector it concerns, we are raising the thresholds for the procurement. This, in turn, goes against the goal of increasing the number of bids per procurement.

We have had a problem for some time where we are setting more and more requirements, which makes it harder for companies to participate in procurements. Consequently, we are impairing the capacity for innovation and competitiveness, and we risk raising prices.

But Luhr and I are very much aware that the municipalities themselves can set tougher environmental requirements. Both Luhr and I, when we were city council colleagues in Stockholm city, were driving this. The municipalities can and do, to a very large extent today, set requirements, including much tougher climate requirements than the law requires. I hope that many municipalities will continue to do so.

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Katarina Luhr (MP)

Madam Speaker! I continue on the same theme: Much of what we procure is counted under Sweden's consumption emissions, i.e., those emissions that occur outside Sweden's borders.

Less than a year ago, all government parties and all parliamentary parties stood behind the goal that net emissions for consumption should be zero in the year 2040. I then ask: If the public sector is not to do this job, who then is it that is going to do it?

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Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)

Madam Speaker! I have not said that the public sector should not do any of this work. The public sector is an important actor in, among other things, reducing climate-impacting emissions, and procurement is an important tool in this.

The National Audit Office has issued some criticism regarding the current and previous government's handling of this. We will now proceed with this and see if we need to take any measures.

Sweden is, however, a large country, and the more requirements we set in the procurements, the more we risk worsening competitiveness. An important goal for the government is to be able to keep both balls in the air at the same time.

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Ida Drougge (M)

Madam Speaker! Since the Social Democrats' time in power, Sweden has for several years placed itself at the bottom of the EU's rankings regarding GDP per capita. Since 2014, we have also been one of the countries in the EU with the highest unemployment and lowest growth. This combination has now placed Sweden and, above all, Swedish households in a very strained situation, and on top of this, we have war in Europe, high inflation, and great economic uncertainty in the world.

This week, the EU Commission updated its growth forecast and confirmed what was flagged as early as June 2022: that we still have a bottoming out. This requires answers and preparation from the government. My question to the Minister for Finance is therefore: What is the government doing now?

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Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question.

It is true, as Ida Drougge says, that Sweden since approximately 2016, with some individual exceptions, has had among the lower growth rates in the European Union measured in GDP per capita.

That the situation is such obviously creates great problems for Sweden when it comes to financing the welfare and managing reinforcements in the defense and the police. Above all, it wears down the wage room that exists and the quality of life and benefit that people can have from working.

It is a major problem that Sweden for many years has had low economic growth per person and belonged to the worst in the European Union. Now we have an exceptionally difficult and strained situation in the economy. When it comes to the cyclical measures, it is important not to hinder the Riksbank's opportunity to reach the inflation target.

In the long run, we must of course ensure that those things that drive growth in the economy – education, business activity, entrepreneurship, and hours worked – are given better conditions, reform by reform, budget by budget, in the years ahead.

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Ida Drougge (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for a good answer!

We also now face the fact that we need further capital investments, both to meet growth and to manage the transition. There is a potential here, even though the challenge in the situation we now face is to find the right tools. Can the Minister elaborate on that area?

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Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Madam Speaker! My colleague Mats Persson spoke earlier about the need for access to energy, for example. It is absolutely crucial for Swedish GDP development moving forward that companies have access to clean and cheap energy, and there is intensive work underway to get new energy production in place.

Under previous governments, nuclear power was shut down. That has had serious consequences in Sweden, and this is an issue that is important to work on. Then, of course, there are many other issues as well, but to mention one thing: electricity supply is central.

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Larry Söder (KD)

Madam Speaker! I would like to ask a question to Minister Erik Slottner.

The Nordic prime ministers' vision is that the Nordic region should be the world's most sustainable and integrated region by 2030. We can agree that there is much that must be done before we reach that vision, but one thing that could absolutely facilitate mobility between the Nordic countries is that our digital systems for mobile payment solutions synchronize with each other.

We could read on svt.se that the other Nordic countries, that is, the Norwegian, Danish, and Finnish counterparts to the Swedish Swish, have joined forces and enabled mobile payments between the Nordic countries. Unfortunately, Sweden did not join this merger, and I wonder if the Minister can tell us a bit more about how we in Sweden intend to work together with the other Nordic countries when it comes to, for example, mobile solutions.

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Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member Söder, for the question!

This is a very important issue. The entire digitalization and how our IT systems and digital services should be able to function in our countries and communicate with each other is an important issue not only for the competitiveness of the Nordics and Sweden but for the competitiveness of the whole of Europe.

When it comes to the concrete question of different payment solutions, one must ask those who handle these solutions why Sweden is not part of the cooperation. This is not something that the Swedish state is involved in.

At the EU level, very active work is underway in various parts of the digitalization policy, not least regarding the issue of increased so-called interoperability, i.e., that different IT systems can communicate with each other and thereby perform services across national borders. This is a very important part, just like e-IDAS II, which is intended to enable a digital wallet that will facilitate various payment services within the entire union.

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Larry Söder (KD)

Madam Speaker! One can observe that it can sometimes feel difficult as a municipal citizen to have municipal boundaries between you, and then one can think about what it is like to have national borders that prevent you from communicating with the other nation's mobile or digital solutions.

I believe that this is an issue that the government must try to focus a bit on in order to facilitate for our neighbors in the Nordic region to in one way or another use the mobile payment solutions that exist in the rest of the Nordics. Border crossings are important in different ways, but specifically when it comes to money, they are extremely important.

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Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)

Madam Speaker! I share that assessment, and this is something that the government is working a lot on. It is an important issue for me as a minister responsible for digitalization, how we can facilitate a digital internal market within the union and a mobility that works for people, where citizens feel that the increased digitalization facilitates their mobility within Europe.

Even within Sweden, we have problems with different IT systems that do not communicate with each other, for example between municipalities and regions. There is a lot of work to be done.

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Jakob Olofsgård (L)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Jakob Forssmed.

I know that the Minister's heart beats just as warmly for civil society as mine does. I am thinking of the great contribution that our religious communities make in our society. They receive funds from the state to contribute when it comes to existential health, hospital chaplains, end-of-life care, homelessness and other matters. But there are representatives for religious communities who do not behave themselves and who enter into areas such as conversion therapy, questionable weddings and so on.

Now, the democratic condition has been withdrawn. The whole matter lies on the government's table, and it is being considered. There is now a concern among those who do much good and who have a big heart when it comes to the most vulnerable. That those who behave properly will go along with those who do not behave properly, what will this mean for them? What does the Minister have to say to those who are worried about this right now?

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question!

It is an urgent matter to have a regulatory framework in place that enables precisely what Jakob Olofsgård describes, namely that those who extend a hand to people, who are there and who warm up our society in different ways, should be able to continue to do this with good self-confidence and not feel fear of a regulatory framework.

That is why we have taken the time to listen to their views. We conducted a consultation together with civil society shortly before Christmas, as part of the preparatory work that is now taking place. At the same time, it is important that we establish a regulatory framework that gives us better tools to access and stop grants to those who do not want to contribute to strengthening our common and democratic values.

It is a matter of managing both of these things simultaneously, and that is our focus in the upcoming preparatory work.

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Jakob Olofsgård (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for a very good answer.

Another great heart exists for the sports movement. I can, for example, mention an ice hockey team such as HV71's women's team, which is also struggling with finances. Equality within sports is not the best when it comes to funds.

What does the government have to say about how the government should invest and ensure that funds also reach the dam industry?

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question. This is something that we follow up on in our dialogue with Riksidrottsförbundet. We provide extensive support that is relatively free, but where we also follow up and ensure that it is reported how the support is distributed in different ways.

We also have the issue of facilities, which is very important, and that municipalities also review it so that the facility times are not distributed in an unequal way. It is not just about resources in terms of money, but also resources when it comes to who gets access to halls and facilities in a reasonable way. There, the government has reason to consider how we can return to this issue.

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Dzenan Cisija (S)

Madam Speaker! I have a question for the Minister for Social Affairs. The segregation in public health between city and country, or between affluent urban areas and neglected suburbs, is great. The class differences in health are increasing so much that today there is as much of a difference in life expectancy between different parts of, for example, Gothenburg as there is between Sweden and Bangladesh – up to eleven years.

Inflation and the energy crisis hit the poorest hardest and will result in further differences in living conditions between different socioeconomic groups.

Will the government make any interventions to reduce health inequalities?

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question. It is an extremely urgent issue. I see inequality in health as one of my and this government's most important tasks. It is not reasonable that we continue to have these large health differences, which also do not appear to be decreasing much. It is therefore very urgent.

One initiative the government is making is that we plan to introduce a leisure card which means that all children in Sweden between certain ages shall be able to receive support for sports, association life, and for an active and meaningful leisure time. And those in socioeconomically disadvantaged homes shall receive increased support. It is incredibly important precisely to increase movement, exercise, and community, i.e., such things that we know are health-promoting factors that reduce both physical and mental ill-health.

But unfortunately, there is uncertainty as to whether there is support from the Social Democrats for this important reform. I naturally hope for broad support for this and hope that as many as possible want to stand behind such an important initiative.

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Angelika Bengtsson (SD)

Madam Speaker! Match-fixing is an issue that many continue to view with great concern because it is escalating at a rapid pace. Criminal gangs and networks exploit athletes' vulnerable positions through extortion. It often concerns athletes in lower divisions and at young ages.

Some measures have been taken by the previous government, however not enough. And the current government has taken measures so that the relevant actors and authorities can exchange information among themselves, among other things.

The Swedish Police Authority, gambling companies, the Gambling Inspectorate and the sports movement need further support and resources in their fight against match-fixing.

Several parties wish, for example, to see a ban on being able to bet on yellow and red cards or on the number of corners in a game.

Is this an issue that the government will review? And will Minister Forssmed take measures to continue to combat match-fixing?

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Madam Speaker! As someone may have noted, Niklas Wykman and I spoke a little with each other about who should answer this question. We will work on this issue. We will look at whether there are additional things that Sweden can do. There are a number of measures and steps that Sweden has not yet taken but which we see that we could take. It concerns some of the things that the member mentions. But there are additional things that we can discuss in relation to other EU countries, so that we get a more common regulatory framework in place.

During the spring, as part of our presidency, we will discuss the issues of good governance within sport, i.e., transparency and governance of sport and ensuring that we get organizations that are rigged to handle the type of problems the member points out. It will be an important part of our agenda for the presidency to conduct such a discussion with our European colleagues.

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Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)

Madam Speaker! I have a question for Minister for Education Mats Persson. I would like to begin by congratulating the Minister, which I have not had the opportunity to do personally earlier.

We agree that Swedish schools need to be strengthened in very many different areas. We need to free up teachers' working time, we need to review the resource distribution, and we need to review queues and school choice. I believe we agree that things need to be done. The Tidö Agreement contains a part.

But when one looks at the government's planning on these completely crucial points, there is nothing about this in the bill list etcetera.

From the Center Party's side, we would like to avoid standing here with four lost years once again, as we have had since recently during the Social Democrats' time.

Therefore, I ask: When will the government deliver on these points?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I would first like to offer a big congratulations to Niels Paarup-Petersen on the addition to the family. It is, after all, the greatest thing that has happened.

This government is working very intensively on all the reforms that are in the government statement and in the government's agenda regarding a number of these issues. And we will maintain a very high pace. It is about ensuring that teachers have the authority to create safety in the classrooms. It is about ensuring that teachers have time with the students and are not consumed by a mass of administration and by filling out forms. It is about ensuring that preschool and school receive fewer digital tools and that we instead ensure that there are real books so that our children can learn to read, write, and count - back to basics. Then we focus on what built the Swedish school strong once upon a time - order and discipline as well as learning to read, write, and count. Then much has been won.

But once again: Congratulations on the addition to the family!

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Bassem Nasr (MP)

Madam Speaker! Through mother tongue instruction, students can strengthen their linguistic competence and thereby their future position on the labor market. Furthermore, research commissioned by Skolverket shows that students who participate in mother tongue instruction develop both their own language and the Swedish language.

At the same time, there are a number of challenges within mother tongue instruction. These include, among other things, insufficient connection to regular school activities, the supply of competence, and substandard teaching materials.

My question to the Minister for Education is: In what way does the government intend to work to improve the quality of mother tongue instruction?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question.

I think it is very important that our children and youth learn Swedish. It is very important that people who come from other countries become a part of Swedish society - and to become that, it is very important that one learns Swedish.

To learn Swedish, just as the questioner says, mother tongue instruction can play a major role for the ability of students and young people to learn the new language. It can be faster to learn the new language if one also fully masters their mother tongue. This connection is very important to see.

The objective is that we emphasize the importance of learning Swedish. The Swedish language is absolutely crucial for being a full-fledged citizen and a part of Swedish democracy - and mother tongue instruction can be a part of learning Swedish.

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Crister Carlsson (M)

Madam Speaker! I wish to ask a question to Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed.

I want to raise an issue that a previous motion in the Riksdag has highlighted, namely the difference between girls' and boys' sports participation. Boys play sports at higher ages, and girls engage to a greater extent in individual sports such as dance and riding – and then often in private dance studios and stables. The Local Government Act's prohibition against improper favoritism of an individual means that boys' sports are to a greater extent financed via state and municipal support.

How does the government view investigating the possibility of changing existing legislation so that private actors can also apply for support to conduct children's and youth sports?

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank Member Carlsson for the question. It is incredibly important that both girls and boys can practice sports and be active well into their later years - preferably for their whole lives, of course.

This is something we follow up on all the time in our dialogues with Riksidrottsförbundet. I think it is fundamentally very good that we have a club-based sports model, because it also means a sense of community that is very important for many. It ensures that there are present adults in children's lives as they grow up and that they get that chance.

As I have answered to a previous question, it is also important that the municipalities follow this. This is, among other things, about reviewing the access to facilities and how resources are distributed, so that it does not become a one-sided favoring of girls or boys. Everyone should have this opportunity.

I want to emphasize once again that the government is investing in sports in vulnerable areas, which shall benefit both girls and boys. We also have the leisure card, which is intended to enable more sports for more people.

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Yusuf Aydin (KD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Wykman.

The high inflation and the rising interest rates have led to many households being pressed hard by the increased costs for mortgage loans, food, fuel, and energy. Many families with children and other vulnerable groups have ended up in a tough economic situation. In this situation, a temporary pause in the amortization requirement could alleviate the difficult economic situation and help some families to pay their high household costs.

How does the government view the possibility of temporarily introducing a pause in the amortization requirement?

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Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question.

Just as the member describes, Swedish households are having a very tough time in many places now. It is about pensioners and families with children who are struggling now that food prices are becoming high because inflation is skyrocketing. It is also about high fuel costs, and for those who have mortgage loans, it is largely about rising interest rates – which is indeed the Riksbank's response to the high inflation.

If one is to draw a general conclusion by looking at the economy and at the lessons from many years of history regarding this, in Sweden and in other countries, it is that one must get inflation under control. That is the big, burdensome problem in this.

When it comes to the amortization requirement, we have said that it is important with the safety valve that exists, meaning that households that are under heavy pressure should be able to get a break in their amortization. It is important that the safety valve works and that banks grant it as intended, so that this is not a theoretical construction but also works in practice when more people need the safety valve. It is very important, and therefore the Finansinspektionen has been tasked to monitor this.

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Eva Lindh (S)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Slottner.

There is a shortage of nursing assistants, teachers, nurses, and social workers. The list can be made very long. The welfare sector needs to hire 410,000 more people by 2031, which is due to demographic developments and more people retiring.

Many of us are concerned about what this will mean for the quality of the welfare system and what it will mean for those who work in the welfare system to not get more colleagues. It could actually be the case that the welfare system is threatened – the welfare we have built up, which is the foundation of our society and which provides security, equality, and gender equality.

At the same time, the government provides insufficient resources and reduces the number of educational places. The elderly care boost, which is functioning well, will no longer exist after 2023. Will the government change its policy and act to save the welfare?

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Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for the question, Member Lindh!

This is a very broad question to address in one minute. We had an interpellation debate in the Riksdag on this last week, where we were able to broaden and delve a bit deeper into the subject, which I appreciated. I said then that this is a fateful issue for the future welfare, and I still say that. It is a very tough task that our municipalities and regions face regarding the supply of competence and recruitment.

The state and the government provide support through increased general government grants to the municipal sector. We are also increasing the targeted government grants so that the welfare—the core—can be maintained. We are investing in many places in both the regional and the state post-secondary vocational education, which we know is a very effective path directly into the labor market.

It is also important to continue investing in digitalization to make operations more efficient and to ensure that trained staff do the right things. Trained staff should not, for example, make beds or clean, but that can be done by other staff groups.

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Robert Stenkvist (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Mats Persson.

The Swedish Migration Agency has pointed out in a report a serious and extensive abuse of residence permits for studies granted to foreign students in Sweden. The students are granted residence permits for studies but discontinue them after a short time. They do not even have any intentions from the beginning to complete the studies. There are even companies in a couple of countries that openly help people with this activity.

The Swedish Migration Agency's investigation showed that it is primarily the legislation that enables this abuse. The problem was also noted in the Tidö Agreement, where measures against this were announced. My question to Minister Persson is whether the work against the abuse has started and what the continued workflow looks like in this matter.

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for an excellent question. I share the view of the problem.

There are two problems linked to educational institutions or universities and migrants or foreign students. One is that we, so to speak, throw out people who have obtained an education here despite the fact that we have invested a lot of money in their education. It does not seem particularly wise. The other problem is the one the member raises, namely that at individual educational institutions—I want to emphasize that this does not apply generally in Sweden but concerns individual educational institutions—reports have been made of abuse and that people deviate from their studies and become part of a grey or black economy. It is very problematic, and we will, of course, address it.

It is a matter of keeping two things in mind at the same time. On one hand, we must ensure that we do not deport smart people whom we have invested a lot of money in, and on the other hand, we must ensure that we do not have this abuse. The work continues. I completely share the questioner's view that this is a problem that we must address.

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Camilla Hansén (MP)

Madam Speaker! The question of ethical review for the processing of sensitive personal data within humanities and social science research has been discussed increasingly over the past year.

Here, humanistic and social science research based on qualitative methods, where questions are developed and where the answers may not be predictable in the same way as in biological research, is particularly affected. This involves, for example, investigating political or religious beliefs.

Swedish legislation differs somewhat from other countries – this applies, for example, to neighboring countries such as Finland and Denmark and large European research nations such as Germany and France – in that our regulation exists more at the legislative level and is perceived by researchers as very difficult to understand and comply with. Some even feel that their academic freedom is threatened.

I have understood that work is ongoing regarding this within the Government Offices, and I would very much like to hear the Minister for Education elaborate on it.

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for the question. I fully share the view that this is a problem.

It is a problem for the individual researcher who needs to spend a lot of time on ethics review applications in subjects that are quite far from ethical questions. We have legislation that does not distinguish between, on one hand, natural science or medical research and, on the other hand, humanities or social science research. That is where we differ from other countries, just as the questioner says.

Work is ongoing within the Government Offices. We are following this issue very closely. The legislation that exists now was decided by the Riksdag in broad agreement a number of years ago. There is reason to review whether it is expedient and whether it is reasonable that it receives such proportions as it does.

Work is in progress, and we hope to be back shortly.

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Jennie Wernäng (M)

Madam Speaker! I would like to ask a question to Social Minister Jakob Forssmed.

Sport constitutes a part of politics in civil society and, in my opinion, has a strong connection to good public health. I come from Öckerö municipality, an archipelago community where sport and association life are significant. Therefore, I would like to know more about the government's important work in specifically sports policy for our children and young people in Sweden. Can the Minister mention the most important things the government is doing in this area right now?

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank Jennie Wernäng for the question. When it is spoken of Öckerö and sports, many of us probably feel like having a bit of hill training to the lookout point above Nimbus.

Our important initiatives are, among other things, about the leisure card that we intend to introduce for children and young people, so that more children and young people will get the chance to be part of the sports club life that the member pointed out. It is a very important health-promoting resource for children and young people, not least for those who are in socioeconomically disadvantaged homes.

We are investing in sports in vulnerable areas.

I would also like to highlight that we are now significantly increasing the support for sports for the elderly. That one, together with others or on one's own, gets the chance to exercise later in life has such a public health effect as the member pointed out. Furthermore, one can avoid fall injuries through this and in that way also reduce the risk of serious injuries that cause one to be isolated or need care and nursing that otherwise would not have been needed.

There is much positive to do.

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Roland Utbult (KD)

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

It is inspiring that both Öckerö and the leisure card (fritidskortet) are given space in the question period today. The leisure card has been mentioned here several times, and it is indeed included in the Tidö Agreement. It is an important reform to increase children's and youth's activity and movement.

How is it going with the leisure card? What does the planning horizon look like?

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member Utbult, for the question!

We are working at a high pace on this important reform, which is about all children and young people feeling that they have opportunities for an active and meaningful leisure time together with others and, not least, access to more movement, which is very important to lay the foundation for equal health. We will provide extra support - in addition to the support that goes to everyone - to those who are in a socioeconomically disadvantaged situation.

We are working at a high pace to make this possible. We aim for it to be implemented during 2024. It is very urgent, because we know that many children stop when they reach a certain age - not because they actually want to stop their activity, but because they feel that it competes with the grocery bill or the electricity bill. This has not become any less relevant in these times. Therefore, it is of course urgent to maintain a high pace in this matter to safeguard all children's right to an active and meaningful leisure time.

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Adrian Magnusson (S)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Slottner.

As the Minister knows, society is being digitized rapidly. Individuals, companies, and authorities are transforming their lives and operations to take advantage of the opportunities of digitalization. It is, however, of course challenging to transform and break away from old habits.

Sweden has 290 municipalities and 21 regions. In these, a no less challenging digitalization work is underway to make life better for the residents. Many municipalities have great challenges with the transition. Competence is lacking, and there is no standard to lean on. Furthermore, several municipalities struggle with headaches regarding the cloud solutions that exist, which can be perceived as security risks.

My question to Minister Slottner is therefore: What does the government's work look like regarding supporting the country's municipalities and regions with the digitalization work?

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Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)

Madam Speaker! This is an important issue for the government. I have no news that I can present here and now. This is an ongoing work, and I am putting quite a lot of effort behind it so that something happens.

I am very well aware of the opportunities and challenges of digitalization, not least at the local level, given my background as a municipal politician. I see the great opportunities that digitalization can provide, but I also know that it can be very difficult, not least for a small municipality, to get the right competence in place.

We have a close cooperation with SKR, Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner, who are very concerned in this matter. The cooperation involves, among other things, that different IT systems should be able to communicate with each other, as I touched upon in connection with a previous question, so that the municipalities can benefit from each other's IT development.

The question is very important and ranks high on my agenda.

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Carita Boulwén (SD)

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

Mental health among children and young people is a very pressing issue for us in the Sweden Democrats. Children and young people are not getting the help they need, and they are not getting help in time. There are long queues to BUP, and one is often forced to prioritize those who are feeling the worst.

We see an increasing number of young people, especially girls, being hospitalized for self-harming behavior – often poisoning by medication. Children are discharged from BUP because they do not take their medication. It is a great betrayal of the children and young people who need help.

The government is now allocating extra funds to BUP to shorten the queues, which is very important. But we need to rethink. We need to think long-term. Psychiatry in Sweden is dominated by diagnoses, medication, and coercion. Symptoms are often numbed instead of treating the cause. We in Sverigedemokraterna are of the opinion that treatment should be the most important thing so that young people can have a dignified and healthy life.

How does the Minister view the increased focus on diagnosis and medication as the primary measure for children and young people seeking care for mental ill-health?

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member Boulwén, for a very pressing question! This is a major problem, and we take this issue very seriously.

Right now, a large number of authorities are working on a strategy for mental health. It is important that we also highlight the protective factors and ensure that people have access to mental health, which prevents them from ending up in these situations.

When it comes to child and adolescent psychiatry, we have, as the member pointed out, allocated large resources to shorten waiting times and ensure that work can be done to recruit back staff who may have moved to other professions.

I want to say that access to medication is important for many children, but it seems to be the case that there must also be time for treatment interventions. If Bup becomes too pressured, it may be there that cuts are made, so it is important that these funds are now used in a good way to increase accessibility and ensure that those who seek help there receive the correct treatment or medication. It is a matter of working both preventatively and with measures.

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Johan Hultberg (M)

Madam Speaker! Mental illness is one of the biggest and most serious public health problems we have in Sweden. Particularly concerning is the growing mental illness among children and young people. So many are suffering so poorly. Today, one in ten youth between 13 and 17 years of age is in contact with child and adolescent psychiatry. This is one of the explanations for why the queues to BUP are unacceptably long in so many places in Sweden.

I am convinced that in order to reverse the development and improve mental well-being - physical well-being, I was about to say - a work that is both broad as well as comprehensive and long-term is required. It is a matter of strengthening the preventive work but also developing care and treatment and shortening the waiting times.

Two important reforms in the Tidö Agreement are the creation of a failure commission for suicide prevention and that which the minister just mentioned, namely a national strategy for mental health. I want to ask Social Minister Jakob Forssmed how the work with these important reforms is progressing.

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank Johan Hultberg for the question.

Johan Hultberg slightly twisted the words and said physical but meant mental health. I thought that was interesting, because there is a clear connection between the two that is sometimes neglected: If more children move and become active, it can contribute to reducing mental health issues in the long run. We know this from both research and experience.

Our measures are progressing well. We have made decisions on directives for an inquiry regarding the accident commission in cases of suicide. We will shortly present investigators for this important work. Getting these directives in place was something I prioritized so that we could get this work in place as quickly as possible.

We will soon receive reports from authorities on how the work is progressing regarding the major strategy for mental health, and in the autumn, the government will take over when they submit their broad and extensive basis for this important work.

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Azadeh Rojhan (S)

Madam Speaker! Already in 2015, the parties in the Riksdag agreed to tighten the rules to prevent public funds from being allocated to anti-democratic forces or violent extremism.

In July 2022, the S-government therefore submitted a bill on a new democratic condition for state support to religious communities and civil society, with legislative changes proposed to enter into force on 1 January 2023. The current M-SD-government chose to withdraw the bill as soon as it took office.

During the past year, a number of revelations have shown how various communities that receive state grants have made gross deviations from fundamental democratic principles and human rights.

If the legislation on democratic conditions had entered into force this year, it would have created clearer conditions and frameworks for authorities that distribute grants to religious communities and civil society organizations ahead of upcoming payments.

My question to Minister Jakob Forssmed is therefore: When will we receive a government bill?

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank Member Rojhan for the question.

We do not have an M-SD government in Sweden, but a government consisting of the Christian Democrats, the Liberals and the Moderates with a Moderate Prime Minister, and the government has a cooperation with the Sweden Democrats in, among other things, budget issues - just so that it is clear here in the chamber.

So to the question. It is very important that we get good conditions in place for the state's grant funding to civil society so that one does exactly what the member points out: prevents extremism and undemocratic tendencies in organizations.

But it is important that it turns out well, and there has been extensive criticism of the bill that was submitted, not least from civil society organizations, which uphold democracy. It has been important to listen to it.

Preparatory work is now continuing to ensure that we do not provide grants to organizations that engage in extremism. This work is taking place in the Government Offices, and a government bill will be submitted.

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Mattias Eriksson Falk (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Niklas Wykman.

The state mortgage bank SBAB recently presented a survey showing that young adults between 18 and 24 years old have difficulty finding a home, something we have known for some time. But the survey also shows that 68 percent of young adults have refrained from seeking a job and 67 percent have refrained from seeking an education due to the difficult housing situation.

To facilitate entry into the housing market for our young adults, the Sverigedemokraterna have championed the issue of starter loans for first-time buyers, something that the government's parties have also previously expressed support for. During the previous parliamentary term, an inquiry into starter loans for first-time home buyers also submitted its proposals to the previous government. These proposals were sent for consultation in April 2022.

My question to the Minister is: Does the Minister intend to return to the Riksdag with a proposal regarding start-up loans for first-time home buyers?

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Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for the question.

It is well known that the Swedish housing market does not function satisfactorily. All regulations have their merits and good intentions, but in total, without going into detail, one can state, which is widely known in society, that the amount of regulations overall has made it difficult to enter the housing market and that it is difficult to build. There is a shortage of housing if one compares it with the demand that exists.

That is why the government has been clear that there is a deregulation ambition in this sector. It shall become easier to build, and a good deal of this will occur in the years ahead.

A poorly functioning housing market and a highly functioning credit market is a bad combination. It leads to households being able to become very indebted. That is what we have seen in Sweden and what is described with interest rate sensitivity and other things. In between, one must make a trade-off.

There is a discussion about start-up loans, and there is also a discussion about the credit regulations that exist. The Government will return.

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Marie-Louise Hänel Sandström (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Education Minister Mats Persson.

There are repeated reports that children and young people are reading less overall, but above all, books. A study from Uppsala shows that reading among children and young people has dropped drastically since the 70s. Reading comprehension has also decreased, even among strong readers. It is also stated that the availability and quality of teaching materials vary greatly across the country. It occurs that teaching materials are old, outdated, and irrelevant. Research in the field shows that it is important that children at an early age get access to books and good teaching materials.

How is the Ministry of Education working to ensure that more children gain access to high-quality, quality-assured learning materials and reading at an early age?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank the questioner for an incredibly important question.

If our children and youth do not learn to read, they do not learn to write, and then they do not learn to count. That is how the connection looks.

Now the experiment with mass digitalization in Swedish schools is over. It began with the Green Party politician Gustav Fridolin's decision regarding digital learning materials in the preschool curriculum, which means that two- and three-year-olds sit with iPads in preschool. This then continues all the way up through the Swedish school system. But it is over now. It is important with real physical books, and it is important that our children learn to read.

In the budget the Riksdag decided on, before Christmas a historical investment in new textbooks is being made, and the goal is clear: We want children to have a real textbook, and we will not have digital tools in the way we did previously. Our children shall learn to read, write, and count. If we manage this, we can manage much in Swedish society.

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Mats Wiking (S)

Madam Speaker! Sweden is in the midst of a recession and at the same time also in a climate transition. In the climate transition, new companies are being created, and large industries are transitioning to fossil-free production. When new jobs are created, apartments, schools, preschools and health centers need to be built, which also generate jobs and relocation.

The great transition is happening right now in northern Sweden, where it is expected that, in the long run, up to 100,000 people will need to be recruited and newly employed. But for these people to be able to take the new jobs, training and skills development are often required, and Svenskt Näringsliv and LO agree that a substantial expansion of education at different levels is needed, including upper secondary education, higher education, and adult education.

My question to the Minister for Education is: In what way will the government meet the educational and skills needs that exist in the cities and towns where industry and companies are now concentrating?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank the questioner.

Competence supply is extremely important, and there are a number of things that need to happen. For the first, we need to place higher demands on people. Those people who do not go to work every morning but who have the opportunity to work shall work. People who today do not learn the Swedish language shall learn the Swedish language. It is too many immigrants who drop out of SFI, and that we can never accept. Higher expectations and higher demands on people are therefore number one.

Number two is to listen to a much greater extent to what needs the Swedish business community and the local companies have and adapt educations accordingly. Only then can we ensure to build a system where people receive the right competence so that the business community can flourish.

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Martin Westmont (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Erik Slottner.

In Sweden, we have a procedure where companies buy up large quantities of tickets to then sell them further at a higher price to the end consumer. The result is that it becomes more difficult for the consumer to buy a ticket at the regular price. One is often forced to buy a ticket at a higher price on the secondary market.

In the Investigation Service's report 2022:1201 on tickets sold on the secondary market, we see that Norway has introduced a law against the sale of tickets on the secondary market, the so-called black market law. Following the introduction of the law, a decrease in the trade of overpriced tickets has been observed.

My question to Minister Erik Slottner is whether it could be relevant to introduce a similar law to the one in Norway in order to reduce the trade of overpriced tickets on the secondary market in Sweden.

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Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for the question, Member Westmont! This is not a question that has been spinning around at the Government Offices during my four months as Civil Minister with responsibility for consumer issues. It has also not been raised in the conversations I have had with the committee that Martin Westmont sits on, so let us discuss this issue further!

It is always interesting to receive international inspiration, not least from countries that are close to us and that function in a similar way. If Norway has successful examples of how one can counter and limit this type of behavior, I think it is very interesting and would gladly look further into it. I have reason to contact my Norwegian colleagues in many other areas, including digitalization, and would also like to bring up this issue and see if it could make consumer policy even better in our country.

Question time was hereby concluded.

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