Question Time

TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions today will be answered by Minister for Energy and Business Ebba Busch, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson, Minister Erik Slottner, and Minister Paulina Brandberg.

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/her performance of duties. Minister for Energy and Business Ebba Busch answers both general political questions and questions within her own area of responsibility.

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Fredrik Olovsson (S)

Mr. Speaker! There are quite a few examples of individual households receiving hundreds of thousands of kronor in electricity support, and it has been reported in the media regarding an example where the support exceeds 700,000 kronor.

It can also be the case that many individuals who receive such large amounts have not paid abnormally much for their electricity at all, because one may have had a low, fixed electricity price during the period. One can thus, in practice, have received hundreds of thousands of kronor in subsidies even if one has not had corresponding increased costs.

At the same time, many people in our country have received no help at all from the government. This applies especially to those who live in the northern part of Sweden. I wonder if Ebba Busch was aware that it would turn out this way when the decision on the electricity support was made and, if so, why nothing was simply done about this obvious injustice.

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Fredrik Olovsson is asking a question about the electricity support. I can begin by stating to the Chamber, the spectators in the gallery, and those listening at home that this electricity support, which is now being paid out in a first round, is therefore significantly larger, comes significantly faster, and is much more secure than the variant that was tested during the previous parliamentary term. However, it is not without flaws, for it is difficult to patch and repair a system that fundamentally does not work and try to compensate for it retroactively.

No, one has not been able to predict all the outcomes of this. I do, however, want to be clear that what is being paid out now is based on what the companies have reported and the actual consumption that has been had. But it is clear that it is not a perfect system, and that is why the focus must lie on building the energy system as a whole strong again.

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Fredrik Olovsson (S)

Mr. Speaker! In the debate, it is sometimes said that some of those receiving these large amounts would be companies. If it is in the way that has been put forward, there should also eventually be a support for companies specifically, but in that matter, the government is waiting for a state aid assessment.

If it were the case that it is companies that are to receive these very large supports, I wonder if the government is sure that one can comply with the state aid framework and not, in that case, put these companies in a very difficult situation.

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Mr. Speaker! We will return to the state aid review. It is part of what is being reviewed now against the Commission and what we have submitted.

I want to emphasize that the fact that individual citizens can feel secure that the state will not subsequently take the liberty to openly share information with the public that should be able to be private, furthermore in a difficult security policy situation, is not the same as that the support cannot be audited. Fraud and trickery will be prosecuted very strictly, and that is the mandate of Försäkringskassan.

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Angelica Lundberg (SD)

Mr. Speaker! International research shows that as many as 75 percent of those who have been subjected to other forms of domestic violence may also have been subjected to economic violence. Currently, a study is being conducted in Sweden concerning 20 women who, in addition to sexual, psychological, and physical violence, have also been subjected to economic violence. Almost all of them had, after successfully leaving the relationship, payment defaults and debts with Kronofogden that they themselves had not caused.

Economic violence is not just identity theft or fraud. It is often an extension of other forms of violence and frequently occurs in connection with honor-related violence and oppression. What can the Minister for Civil Affairs do to ensure that the person who has been subjected to economic violence does not also end up in a debt trap due to someone else's actions?

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Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I would like to thank Member Lundberg for this important question which is very little noticed, one might still say. Violence in close relationships is a subject that often comes up on the agenda, but specifically economic violence is talked about very little. I therefore think it is good that the question is raised.

The question of over-indebtedness in general is important for the government, and as the minister responsible for consumer issues, I have said that over-indebtedness is one of the priorities that I want to work on.

There is currently an investigation that is to come forward with proposals on how we can both prevent and counteract over-indebtedness in society. The investigation shall also cover the proposal for a national debt register. We have not landed on the issue quite yet, but it could be a measure that makes it easier for these women to actually see if a relative has taken out loans in their name.

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Angelica Lundberg (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Although economic violence is not a new phenomenon, the political proposals are conspicuous by their absence. The dark figure is large, and the knowledge in the area is, as the Minister says, simply too poor. We therefore have a collective responsibility to bring the issue onto the agenda.

I want to ask the Minister for Civil Affairs if he can promise today to do everything he can within his area of responsibility to ensure that it is the perpetrator and not the victim who has to bear the consequences of the debts.

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Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The latter, I think, is important in principle when we talk about crime and punishment – that it is the perpetrator who should take responsibility and not the crime victim. Sometimes one can, I think, see examples where the crime victim has to take too great a responsibility and where the perpetrator can sometimes get off lightly.

I want and will, therefore, gladly do what I can within my area of responsibility to counter economic violence. Our municipalities and regions must also take responsibility, as this type of economic violence can also occur, for example, within elderly care, and it is important to detect it.

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Birger Lahti (V)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Energy and Business.

The European Commission is presenting a proposal for a reform of the European electricity market in the coming days. Now I want the Minister to listen carefully so that I actually get an answer, because I did not get one last week when I tried with the same theme.

The energy ministers must have aired the question of how the member states stand regarding the current market model. Does the Swedish government think that today's marginal pricing works well for Swedish consumers when Sweden, which has the lowest production costs, is at the same time the largest exporter of electricity to other EU countries?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you very much for the question, Birger Lahti! We have reason to speak a great deal about these issues through the Committee on Industry.

It is completely obvious that we today have a system that does not function particularly well. Sweden is, partly due to a dismantled electricity system where 3,000 megawatts of planned electricity production has disappeared from Sweden in recent years, much more vulnerable now to electricity prices in the rest of the world and what is happening with the terrible war of aggression in Ukraine.

I believe that in the long run, it will be necessary to review how the pricing is carried out even within Sweden.

We have now received the proposal from the Commission on a new electricity market design. We note that all types of power are welcomed and that a change has occurred by also including nuclear power, which we welcome. But major problems remain in Sweden, and we are working on these.

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Birger Lahti (V)

Mr. Speaker! Is Sweden's answer to the Commission, then, that one should change the marginal pricing as a method? Will you pursue that question, Ebba Busch? It is not viable, so to speak, and it does not benefit Sweden's consumers.

I never received any answer on what the government's view is on the new reform. Have you pushed forward regarding the marginal pricing? It cannot be said to work since we have the highest prices and the lowest production costs.

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I can agree that it is obvious that something is at odds in how the system is currently designed.

Now that the commission has presented its proposal, we will take it home and analyze it to see if it is a good or bad setup. Then, in the correct order, we will anchor in the EU Committee what the Swedish position will be, in addition to the chairmanship mandate that we have to achieve a whole that works for the entire union. I believe that it can work together.

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Rickard Nordin (C)

Mr. Speaker! On Monday, the price at the pump was raised by 5 kronor for biogas. A farm producer who has a turnover of 600,000 now receives a tax of 1 million. It is an absurd situation.

After an EU judgment that came in December and which the government chose not to appeal, the situation for both producers and consumers of biogas is acute. The only measure the government has taken is that they have written a letter to the Commission to see if we can get a new tax exemption, a process that normally takes 18 months.

The government has devoted the entire election campaign to talking about fuel prices. Obviously, this commitment does not apply to biogas, a fuel that we produce ourselves, which is climate-smart, creates local jobs, and strengthens our security.

Drivers are now facing skyrocketing costs, producers are not discussing whether they should shut down but how and when they should shut down, and climate emissions are increasing. Therefore, I want to ask Energy Minister Ebba Busch: What does the government intend to do for biogas in the near term?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I want to begin by underlining that the Swedish position remains firm. Biogas is an important part of Swedish consumption and something important that we can contribute to the rest of the world, not least to the rest of the EU. It is also an important part of the entire system that follows from the proud Swedish green forestry industry.

We truly and deeply regret the decision that has been reached. This is the reason why we have addressed the commission in the strongest possible terms with our view on this, signed by me personally but also by the Minister for Finance.

We also do everything we can in the negotiations that are currently ongoing and which in different ways concern this area, to keep the Swedish flag flying high. It is in Sweden's interest to protect biogas, but I mean that it is also in the interest of the entire European Union.

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Rickard Nordin (C)

Mr. Speaker! A firm stance does not help the carrier who has invested in trucks and now has to watch the millions roll away. And being concerned is not enough for the consumer who now sees the price at the pump raised by 5 kronor.

My question is: What is the government doing here and now? One can lower the minimum taxes, one can introduce conversion support so that more people can drive on biogas and the market becomes better, and one can change the driving license rules so that there are better conditions. There is a multitude of measures that the government could take here and now.

My question is therefore: What does the government intend to do, other than write letters?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I believe I was very clear that we are fighting hard for these issues in the negotiations currently underway, which will affect the Swedish forest industry and many of our entrepreneurs and drivers. In addition to this, we are, of course, looking at whether there are further measures we can take as a result of the decision.

Both a spring revision budget and another autumn budget will be presented, and we will have reason to return to this. In our government basis, there are no contradictions when it comes to the forest, and it is also crystal clear in the EU.

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Märta Stenevi (MP)

Mr. Speaker! It is tempting, in the shadow of rising food prices, to remind how the campaign's whistling falukorvs have now fallen silent, but this is not a time for either props or mockery.

Yesterday, four heavy-weight social actors presented a deeply alarming report showing that single parents with low incomes - now one in three people - live in such acute poverty that they cannot buy nutritious food for their children. One in three has so little money that they cannot buy winter clothes for their children, and one in four is forced to borrow money every month for basic expenses such as rent and food.

Mr. Speaker! We risk losing an entire generation of children to child poverty, and the situation is acute. I would therefore like to ask Minister Ebba Busch: Will the government respond to civil society's alarm regarding children who are suffering by increasing the housing allowance and the child allowance and introducing free breakfast for all children in school?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Mr. Speaker! This is truly an issue that hurts because many children right now carry their parents' and families' anxiety about whether they will manage to pay the bills at the end of the month. I would like to thank Märta Stenevi both for her commitment and for her question, which is incredibly urgent.

We need to do what we can now to combat what is underlying and what is driving inflation and food prices upwards. It is about lowering the reduction obligation, which we will do. It is about looking at what makes the price of electricity so high, which we also do. We have also previously extended and maintained the housing supplement for the most vulnerable, and it is an important issue to keep track of even going forward.

We will return with more measures to help the most vulnerable in this difficult situation.

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Märta Stenevi (MP)

Mr. Speaker! I would like to thank the Minister for the answer.

This is about families who do not have cars and who do not have large villas. It is about children who go to school hungry today, about children who are cold because their parents cannot buy winter jackets today, and about mothers who go into debt to pay the rent today.

I want to repeat my very simple question: Will the government respond to the alarms from civil society and increase the housing allowance permanently, increase the child allowance, and offer free breakfast for all children in school?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Mr. Speaker! We have extended the housing allowance, and it is not ruled out that it may continue.

No part of the first budget we submitted in the autumn was as clearly prioritized as supporting households in this difficult situation and additionally supporting the municipalities so that they, in turn, have the possibility to help further. A clear prioritization of civil society is taking place.

But Stenevi and I myself do not need an increased child allowance, rather we need to ensure that the most vulnerable are reached.

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Anna af Sillén (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question to the Minister for Enterprise concerns Swedish entrepreneurship and competitiveness. Sweden is, as we know, a fantastic country, not least thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit that exists here. But despite excellent conditions, we do not top any growth lists today; on the contrary. Inhibiting bureaucracy and burdensome administration have for a long time hampered the competitiveness and profitability of Swedish companies and thus growth.

Small businesses are hit hardest when entrepreneurs have to spend time on red tape instead of on the actual work. At the same time, our industry is standing still, waiting for endless permit processes. Sweden needs a major wave of deregulation. It is therefore very welcome that the government has signaled a high ambition when it comes to strengthening Swedish entrepreneurship.

My question to the Minister for Enterprise is: How will the government work to reduce the regulatory burden and unnecessary bureaucracy for our entrepreneurs?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Anna af Sillén is completely right about how serious the consequences will be for those who are Sweden's job creators, namely Sweden's entrepreneurs, when more and more is added. One only looks at the individual small issue and does not see the whole picture for the companies or the enormous administrative burden and regulatory burden that it entails. This burden prevents companies from being started at all and prevents companies from growing and being able to employ more people.

This is the reason why we have made it one of four top priorities during the Swedish presidency to push for long-term competitiveness and a reduction of the regulatory burden for companies within the EU at large. In addition, we are implementing a number of changes within Sweden which, among other things, concern that EU rules shall not be over-implemented and about strengthening such as Verksamt.se. We will also workshop the investigations that have been conducted regarding reduced regulatory burden.

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Anna af Sillén (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the Minister for Enterprise for the answer. It raises hope, because a political gathering of forces is needed to strengthen Sweden as a nation of entrepreneurs. In this government's work with regulatory simplification, this is a very important cog, and it needs to happen as promptly as possible.

Let us remember that the debureaucratization that was intended to benefit our entrepreneurs naturally also contributes to making the state more efficient, which is a benefit in itself.

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Correct. There is quite a lot that has been on the previous government's desk that has not been touched. It may seem strange that nothing was done about the situation; this had been investigated and finalized. We made a start on it. We have also signaled that we will come forward with an implementation council – I truly look forward to that. This issue is currently being prepared so that the regulatory burden can be further reduced. There is also much more in the works.

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Camilla Rinaldo Miller (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I would like to direct my question to Minister for Equality Paulina Brandberg.

A week ago was International Women's Day. It is a day when we highlight very many important issues regarding women's rights and which is significant from many perspectives. Among other things, there was a strong focus on men's violence against women. The figures regarding women who are subjected to violence are alarming, and this is something that we can never accept. The fight against violence against women must continue every day.

My question to the Minister for Equality is: Has the government started any work to counter, prevent, and preclude this?

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Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the question. This is an incredibly important issue. It is also an issue that, before I became a minister, I worked on in our courtrooms in my capacity as a prosecutor.

When it comes to combating violence in close relationships, a holistic approach must be taken. We must ensure that more people can be prosecuted and that there are adequate punishments for these crimes, which this government will ensure. The government will look at a number of increased penalties. We must, however, also look at what we can do to prevent these crimes before they occur. There, I believe we must ensure that every person is given an actual opportunity to leave a relationship they do not want to stay in. This includes, for example, that one is not economically dependent on the perpetrator.

There is a large package. We have begun the work of developing a new national strategy to combat this.

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Camilla Rinaldo Miller (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I am very pleased with that answer. I am also pleased with how the Minister expressed the answer, because I am convinced that there is a large dark figure when it comes to conditions in other close relationships. We know that in many cases it is still shameful to dare to report. This definitely applies to men's violence against women, but it also applies to women's violence against men and violence in same-sex relationships.

My question is what the government is doing to prevent violence in close relationships regardless of who one lives with. I think you were touching on that, Paulina Brandberg, even though you chose to express yourself differently.

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Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! It is no coincidence that I choose to express myself in this way. When I have sat in our courtrooms, I have seen that this violence has also occurred in other constellations.

There is definitely a large dark figure. Everyone who is subjected to violence by a partner or former partner should, of course, have the right to enjoy the protection of society. This is something that I will work hard on during this mandate period.

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Helena Gellerman (L)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Civil Affairs Slottner.

Using artificial intelligence offers great potential for improvement in a long range of areas, not least when it comes to healthcare and self-driving cars. We in Sweden are well-positioned in some areas, but we are significantly worse off in others. Generally, Sweden is lagging behind.

At the same time, there are examples of technology where AI is used to mimic people's voices. One believes it is a relative calling and can be deceived into giving away money.

Another example is the current EU proposal and the trade-off regarding detecting child pornography crimes and allowing AI to go through all private individuals' images and texts on the internet.

My question is how the Minister views this. We need to drive the development of AI, but at the same time, there is the connection to personal privacy and ethics.

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Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I would like to thank Member Gellerman for another very important issue that we must place a strong focus on.

We all know that digitalization offers our society enormous opportunities; we have good examples of that. But we have much more to do when it comes to digitalization - not least when it comes to artificial intelligence, we are only at the beginning of a journey that can give us incredibly many advantages. A calculation has shown that within public administration we can save 140 billion kronor by using AI technology on a larger scale.

With these opportunities come also great risks, not least from an ethical perspective. It is very important that we take this with us when we develop artificial intelligence.

Within the EU, a major effort is currently underway regarding how to achieve a common regulation for the development and implementation of new AI technology within the union. I believe this is very important. There, AI is classified with different safety risks, which is a good start to this work.

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Helena Gellerman (L)

Mr. Speaker! It is very positive that so much work is being done on these issues, because Sweden really must step up when it comes to using AI.

Let me go into what the EU and the EU's countries think about this, because it greatly affects how we can use AI. How do other countries view the development of AI regarding how they can use AI for their own country's development and for the EU's development in general? We are dependent on other countries' attitudes toward this to get some momentum in these issues.

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Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I am not sure that I can speak for other countries, but I completely agree with the questioner that Sweden as a country needs to step up in this area.

I visit many tech companies around Sweden to get a picture of how they work with AI and what we can do with new AI technology. One prerequisite is that we expand the 5G network, because without 5G it is difficult to implement new AI technology.

We are now actively working on reviewing the overall IT strategy in Sweden. There is much left to do there.

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Sofia Amloh (S)

Mr. Speaker! I direct my question to Minister Paulina Brandberg.

According to SCB, the country's working women constitute 54 percent of the country's total women. This is a group that, relatively speaking, has fared worse and more unequally over time – it is visible in working women's wages, working conditions, health, and life expectancy.

It was these working women who took a hard hit in order to carry the important social functions in the welfare state during the pandemic. It is these working women who are paying a very high price in the economic crisis that we are currently in. It is quite unworthy.

The government's first budget did not provide anywhere near the resources that the welfare system is in need of. Instead, resources were used to strengthen the finances of upper-middle-class men.

My question to the Minister is: Does the government intend to do anything to alleviate the difficult economic situation of working women?

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Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the member for the question.

Yes, these are difficult economic times, and working women are absolutely a group that is having a tough time. One reason for that is our gender-segregated labor market, where certain industries are female-dominated and we see an inequality in wages.

The government is reforming the tax policy because we believe that tax cuts can bring about other effects that benefit everyone in our society and can strengthen welfare.

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Lars Wistedt (SD)

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

Shortage of personal equipment in the Armed Forces has been a theme for several years. It concerns sizes that are too small, quantities that are too small, depots lacking equipment, and so on.

The Armed Forces, which for a long time has strived for equality, has also had difficulty providing adapted equipment for women. Equality is not only shown in fine policy documents but perhaps even more in action and, in this case, in access to adapted equipment.

The quality of the training of both conscripts and permanent employees, as well as the Home Guard and other voluntary organizations, suffers directly if one does not have adequate equipment.

Has the Government taken, or does the Government intend to take, any initiatives towards the Armed Forces and the Defence Materiel Administration in connection with this?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Lars Wistedt for the question regarding quantity material.

Both the 2016 and 2020 defense decisions focused on what we call the base plate, and here increased power was to be placed on exercise, training, and personal equipment.

It also concerns that we have now restructured the organization of the Armed Forces by strengthening the defense branch chiefs' authority over, among other things, materiel issues. I think it is a step in the right direction that those who are the operators are given better conditions to influence the design and allocation of materiel.

Alongside this, the government has in its regulatory letter urged the Armed Forces to continuously report back on how the work regarding the allocation of personal equipment is progressing. We have received indications that this constitutes a problem in certain units, and therefore the government will follow up on this in the regulatory letter and in dialogue with the Armed Forces.

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Ciczie Weidby (V)

Mr. Speaker! I turn to Paulina Brandberg.

Food prices, rents and electricity prices have increased, but wages and working hours have not increased at the same rate. Many are therefore finding it increasingly difficult to manage their everyday lives. Working hours are even being trimmed for people so that they can end up on as little as five hours a week.

About a month ago, I submitted a written question to the Minister regarding whether she intends to work towards changing the legislation so that hyvling is prohibited, and the answer was a clear no.

My question therefore is: What advice does the Minister have for all the H&M employees who have had their working hours cut and are worried about how they will make ends meet?

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Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! During the previous government, a major reform of LAS was carried out, which many are aware of. When such a major reform is made, it is obviously important to see how it turns out, otherwise the policy just becomes a patchwork of different measures.

There are absolutely problems in the Swedish labor market with that many who want to work full-time instead have to work part-time. I think, however, that it is irresponsible to just patch on new measures before one has seen how the new LAS reform turns out, but after that, one must obviously be prepared to make improvements. First, however, one must look at the outcome of existing legislation.

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Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)

Mr. Speaker! Poland's Prime Minister has today announced that Poland will send four fighter jets to Ukraine. The Centre Party has previously been clear that Sweden should prepare to send Jas to Ukraine, as Ukraine needs fighter jets to push back the Russian invasion - with this, Zelenskyy has been extremely clear. He has also specifically requested Jas planes from the Prime Minister.

The Center Party is ready for Sweden to send JAS planes and begin training pilots.

My question to the Minister of Defence is simple: Will the government follow Zelenskyy's request and the Center Party's proposal and say yes to sending Jas to Ukraine?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the member for the question and for the commitment to Ukraine.

Sweden takes a very large responsibility for Ukraine's security. Today we present a proposal for an extra amendment budget with main battle tanks, Archer, and the possibility to strengthen the air defense.

When it comes to the Jas Gripen, I have said that the six divisions that we have for the defense of Sweden, we will need to continue to have. Russia is heavily weakened when it comes to ground forces, but when I look at the Russian air forces and naval forces, I see that they are almost intact. Therefore, I assess that the Gripens that we have for the defense of the Swedish territory, we will need to have in order to continue to protect our territorial integrity and freedom. I therefore cannot do away with them.

I rule nothing out for the future. We have no principled objections to what Poland does linked to the MiG 29, but here we stand today.

I can also state that it would take a few years to produce new Gripens if we were to send planes to Ukraine.

There are other ways to support Ukraine than with combat aircraft.

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Ulrika Westerlund (MP)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Paulina Brandberg and concerns the pressing reform to establish a new gender identity law.

This legislative change has been justified for a very long time, and I can remind of some of the most recent events. A draft of a referral to the Council on Legislation was sent in November 2021 by the S-MP government. Subsequently, a referral to the Council on Legislation arrived in July 2022. According to the list of government bills for the spring, a bill was to arrive on February 21, which was then moved to March 7.

Will this bill be presented in the near future?

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Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the member for the question.

As we all know, Barbro Westerholm passed away this week. She was a champion for LGBTQI rights, and what she did cannot be overstated. As the person responsible for these issues, I feel a great responsibility to carry Barbro's legacy forward. I see it as a matter of course.

One of the most important issues on my desk regarding the LGBTQI area is a new gender identity law. The current legislation is from 1972. It is outdated and not adapted to today's view on these issues.

It is of course important that the new law becomes as good as possible. I would have wished that we had had a bill ready, but the Government Offices are still working intensively on it. I hope to be able to present a bill in the near future so that we can update this ancient law.

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Fredrik Saweståhl (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question also goes to Minister Paulina Brandberg.

Given that it has only been two days since the hero for all of us LGBTQ people, Barbro Westerholm, passed away, I would like to continue on the theme of LGBTQ in my question to the Minister.

One of the issues that I believe is most important to address and which has great significance is, of course, about honor oppression and the honor violence that also affects individuals within this group. It is an issue that we Moderates and you Liberals have worked on for many years to bring attention to. While others have wanted to turn away their gaze and sweep the problems under the rug, our parties have stood up for this uprightly and honestly and dared to address these issues.

Therefore, the change of government this autumn was welcome even from this perspective, because now we can finally get more done in this area. I know that the government, both in the Tidö Agreement and in other documentation, has signaled measures.

I would therefore like to ask the Minister: How will the government ensure that the LGBTQ perspective is included in the continued fight against honor violence and honor oppression?

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Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for the question! The question of the vulnerability of LGBTQI persons in a context of honor is a question that we have not discussed sufficiently. This government will not turn a blind eye to that question. We have recently given a mandate to Forum för levande historia - which is thus an LGBTQI-strategic agency - which means that the agency in its activities shall promote equal rights and opportunities regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, and this applies to all areas of the agency's work.

In the Tidö Agreement, there is also a measure that I am incredibly proud of: We shall review a criminalization of so-called conversion therapy, that is, where one tries to persuade people to change their identity, something that is commonly occurring specifically in a "honor" context. We are on this ball – I can promise you that!

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Ingemar Kihlström (KD)

Mr. Speaker! We can, as previous speakers have mentioned, now see how many families need to struggle to make the everyday economy work.

The government has ensured that the electricity support has recently been paid out, which has provided a much-needed financial support to, among others, families. The temporary supplement to the housing allowance also remains during the first half of 2023. But one can also see that the costs for all of Sweden's inhabitants will continue to be high during 2023, and this coming winter we will likely see high energy costs similar to those that many households have experienced over the past year.

My question to the Minister for Energy and Business is therefore: What is the government's analysis of the families' economic situation for the rest of 2023, and also for the upcoming winter? And based on that: What measures does the government assess could be appropriate to provide families with the support they need to create a secure and predictable home environment for their children and youth? We know that secure families are a good foundation for a secure society.

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Ingemar Kihlström, for the question! As said, very many, 98 percent, of all those who were entitled to the electricity support in the first round received it on March 7. For quite a few people with ordinary incomes and with a type of consumption for a normal-sized villa, it means an electricity support of approximately 16,000 kronor or 10,000 kronor, depending on which area one lives in. There will be a second round as well, but this is a relief in a difficult time.

It will be economically tough for many families for a long time. Therefore, we are looking at whether there are further extensions or reinforcements we can make in the upcoming spring amendment budget specifically regarding families with children who are struggling. It is also why it is so important that we get the leisure card that has been announced in place, so that children's leisure time does not have to bear the responsibility of making the family's finances work.

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Peter Hedberg (S)

Mr. Speaker! In December, we could read that the government had chosen to locate the new Payment Authority in Stockholm instead of in Södertälje or any other location. It was said that this was done for reasons including local considerations.

The previous Social Democratic government actively worked to relocate and decentralize state activities to places throughout the country, both so that state jobs actually exist in all parts of Sweden and because it is fundamentally about the state's legitimacy.

The Swedish National Audit Office has recently reviewed the localization of state agencies outside of Stockholm and concluded that there are many positive effects but that more would need to be done. My simple question to Minister Erik Slottner is: Does the government intend to act actively to relocate and relocalize state agencies and authorities throughout the country?

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Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for the question! Agency placements must be expedient. We cannot view agency placements solely as a rural policy measure, but we place agencies where we believe they will have the best effect and greatest impact, and therefore agencies should be located throughout Sweden. Some agencies are best suited in Stockholm. Other agencies—there are many examples of this—suit other parts of the country. We will take it agency by agency when new agencies are established to see where they can best fit.

Government workplaces should exist throughout Sweden. I also think that the government service centers are a good example of how the state can come closer to the local community through establishments across all of Sweden. We continue the work of establishing more government service centers. But, as said, for each agency, one must review where they are most appropriate to be located.

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Jessica Stegrud (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Energy and Business Ebba Busch and concerns Hybrit, the much-talked-about steel-without-coal project which is expected to cost hundreds of billions in tax money. I have familiarized myself with the project, and after meetings with both the Swedish Energy Agency and Svenska kraftnät, I can, as a former investment controller, state that there are very large commercial risks and societal consequences with the project. I can also state that many fundamental questions have not yet been answered. For example: How will the electricity demand, equivalent to all of Finland's electricity demand, be met? What will be the consequences for the electricity price and thus for other households and companies in the region? What happens to all the costly infrastructure if the project fails?

Yes, personally I have many questions that actually lack an answer. My question to the Minister is whether she feels any doubts regarding this multi-billion investment and whether she feels comfortable with the risk analyses and solutions that have been presented.

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the question! I would like to emphasize one thing that I think has disappeared quite significantly in the media discussion surrounding the Hybrit project, which concerns the possibilities of producing steel fossil-free, green steel without a mass of carbon emissions: It is not the case that the Swedish state is going to pump billions of the taxpayers' money into this. It is possible to apply for EU funds for different types of larger, green transition projects, and it is our authorities in Sweden who decide which ones shall be awarded the grants.

In other respects, we need to stick firmly to the order that companies can seek opportunities for establishment. We shall pave the way for companies to be able to make investments, among other things through significantly expanded electricity production.

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Hanna Gunnarsson (V)

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

I want to begin by underlining the previous question that was asked regarding equipment. We had Pliktrådet visiting the Defense Committee today, and they have very large problems with equipment for many of the conscripts. We actually cannot have it that way. Therefore, we look forward to a follow-up from the government on that matter.

But my question concerns another matter that the Duty Council raised with us today. It concerns the indexation of the compensation to those performing military service. One does not perform military service to earn money but for other reasons, but nevertheless, those performing military service also have expenses and costs. It can be anything from mobile subscriptions to actually having a rent to pay. The indexation of the compensation to those performing military service has not been increased for quite a few years. I would therefore like to ask the minister how he views the possibilities of increasing the compensation.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

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

Regarding the daily allowance for conscripts, it was reviewed in 2017 when military service was reactivated. If I am correctly informed, one receives 146 kronor in daily allowance and an equal amount as a form of training bonus. In addition to this, one also receives free travel and free housing and accommodation. The Government does not intend to change the benefits for conscripts now.

Let me also add one thing connected to equipment, as Hanna Gunnarsson also raised this. It is a very pressing and prioritized issue for us in the government that we will continue to work on in the regulatory letter. Both the conscripts and the employees shall have good conditions, and it is very important that the Armed Forces is a good employer in a situation where the defense is to grow rapidly during the coming years.

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Marielle Lahti (MP)

Mr. Speaker! On December 9, the Minister for Energy and Industry held a press conference and stated that the situation was acute. The focus of the press conference was the risk of disconnection of electricity consumers if the electricity in Sweden were not sufficient, and many were unsettled by that information.

Whether something is acute is admittedly a question of definition, but thanks to Dagens Nyheter's investigative report, we know that the government's own expert agencies - above all Svenska kraftnät - did not share the government's assessment. The risk of disconnection was low, it was argued, and this was something that, according to managers at the agency, was clearly communicated to the government. The situation regarding the risk of disconnection was therefore not acute.

I must admit that I was very surprised when I read this. It is therefore about our Minister for Energy and Industry having spread unnecessary alarm and disinformation. One might wonder why. One thought could be that it is about creating legitimacy and continuing to spread the myth that Sweden's energy system is destroyed.

Against this background, I would like to ask the Minister for Energy and Business: Does the Minister regret how she chose to express herself at the press conference? And will the Swedish people receive an apology for the fact that it was so obviously chosen to misinterpret the information received from their authorities in order to scare ordinary people?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The underlying material that came from our authorities to me as the responsible minister contained serious information. It was that Sweden, which has been a country with good access to secure, cheap and relatively emission-free electricity, had now moved from a low risk of disconnection to a real risk of disconnection. That was also the reason why we held the press conference and forwarded what was the authorities' information to the responsible department.

Since then, we were also careful to go out and inform about the need to, not just for cost reasons but also for reasons of solidarity, conserve electricity consumption. We also thanked the Swedish people for helping with this. The responsible authority could after that go out and inform that the risk had gone from real back to low. This the authority went out and communicated externally, and I also as the responsible minister saw to it to contribute to that.

It is important with correct information, but it is also important that one understands the consequences of following it and is careful with the consumption when necessary.

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Helena Bouveng (M)

Mr. Speaker! In July, NATO's summit will take place in Vilnius. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says that the meeting will be an opportunity for allied heads of state and governments to agree on further steps to strengthen NATO's deterrent means and its defense.

Among other things, they will discuss how the NATO countries located near Russia and Ukraine can strengthen their defenses as well as the continued support for the war-torn Ukraine. Jens Stoltenberg also emphasizes the importance of the bond between Europe and North America within NATO when it comes to the ability to guarantee security for the inhabitants. These are issues that actually, to the highest degree, affect us in Sweden.

What comments does the Minister for Defence have regarding these issues being in focus, and how does it affect Sweden's integration into Nato?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you for the question, Helena Bouveng! Let me say two things regarding Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's comments.

One thing concerns the political cooperation that exists within Nato. What ultimately makes Nato unique is, of course, that it is the primary expression of the transatlantic link. Nato is the only place where Europeans and North Americans meet on a daily basis to discuss various forms of security problems, and that is important. The other dimension of this is that the cooperation between the EU and Nato has never been as strong as it has been before and during the war in Ukraine, and that is also very good.

The second point concerns NATO's military role. The role NATO plays and the type of hard security that NATO can deliver naturally becomes increasingly important in light of the fact that we find ourselves in perhaps the most serious security policy situation since the Second World War. In that context, NATO's role and its capacity for deterrence become absolutely crucial for stability and security in the surrounding area.

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Lena Johansson (S)

Mr. Speaker! I have a question for Defense Minister Pål Jonson.

We Social Democrats want Sweden to have a people's defense - a total defense of and for the Swedish people, with popular anchoring, competence, personnel supply, and a military presence throughout the country. We Social Democrats want to see at least 10,000 conscripts as the next stage goal and a war organization that increases to at least 100,000 positions by 2030. In this, we want to see the number of women increase, both conscripts and employees. We have seen how an increased number of women in the Armed Forces has provided important and qualitative contributions.

My question is therefore: What plan does the Minister for Defence have to increase the proportion of women in the Armed Forces?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the question. It is an important one. I know that the Armed Forces are working hard to be an equal employer.

There is a development potential here; we have at least sometimes a challenge when it comes to equipment for women. I am glad that the ballistic body protections will now be adapted for women. I also think it is good that all trousers will be adapted for both men and women now that we are getting what is called the Nordic Combat Uniform, that is, the new uniform. These are important steps to take. I also know that within the Armed Forces, work is being done to implement the equality plan.

Something that is also positive is that since the reintroduction of conscription, we have brought more women into the defense. That is good. Today we are at approximately 19-20 percent women, and during the time when it was based on voluntary recruitment, it was approximately half as many. Important progress is therefore being made, and to strengthen the Armed Forces' operational capability, it is very important that one continues to work even with issues of gender equality.

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Magnus Persson (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Paulina Brandberg.

In the investigation of workplace environment crimes, several authorities are involved - Arbetsmiljöverket, Polismyndigheten, and Åklagarmyndigheten. This minister, with his background, is certainly well aware of this. The investigation period is often long, and the investigative situation is often complicated due to the nature of the issue. Contracting usually occurs in several stages, and technically, there can be complicated causal sequences. There can also be complicated organizational conditions prevailing. There are often several actors involved, and it is in the gaps between the actors that the investigative situation is complicated.

The overall picture of the problems in these investigations shows that an extension of the prescription period would be helpful. The prescription period for workplace environment offenses of the normal degree is today two years, and for gross offenses it is five years.

My question to the Minister is: Does the government consider that a review of the prescription periods for workplace environment crimes could be part of the work for a better working environment and in the fight against crime in the workplace?

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Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! Workplace environment crimes are an incredibly important issue that we must combat partly through the measures in the workplace environment strategy we are working towards, and partly by combating the shadow society, where there are unserious actors who make it a competitive disadvantage to have certain protective measures in the workplace.

These investigations benefit from moving quickly. Previously, it was the case that the Prosecution Authority's and the police's preliminary investigation began after the Work Environment Authority had completed its investigation. This has now been abolished, which has made this go faster. At the current moment, there are no plans to review the prescription periods, but it is clear that it is an issue we can follow and see how we should handle moving forward.

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Anders Ådahl (C)

Mr. Speaker! Nothing is as risky for our energy system and our energy prices as a fragmented energy policy where the messages vary and jump between parliamentary terms. The investments being made go into an energy system that is intended to stand for many years and across many parliamentary terms.

In 2019, Kristdemokraterna and Moderaterna chose to withdraw from the then prevailing energy agreement. Since then, we have seen great uncertainty in the market, which has cast a damp blanket over investments, development, and the possibility of attracting capital to the energy market.

My question is addressed to the Minister for Energy. Is it time to show leadership and invite the other parties in the Riksdag, in both action and meaning, to once again try to establish a broad energy agreement?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I perceive that a shift has occurred in Swedish politics. We have received a clearer message from the Socialdemokraterna that they are indeed in favor of nuclear power. That is very good. Some of the misinterpretations that have occurred regarding my own party's statements on wind power, where we clearly signaled that it is not possible to meet a corresponding doubled electricity consumption with primarily renewable power and wind power, because it would then result in forests of steel, have also landed a bit beyond the election campaign rhetoric. And it has been understood that the new government also welcomes wind power and will do what the socialdemokrater and miljöpartister failed to do, namely to speed up the permit processes.

I therefore perceive that there is now very broad support in Sweden's Riksdag for the new energy policy, and I hope for support also for the new goal of moving from 100 percent renewable to 100 percent fossil-free as a long-term, sustainable rule of the game.

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Lars Engsund (M)

Mr. Speaker! I have a question for the Minister for Energy and Business. In the sea outside the Oskarshamn nuclear power plant, an offshore wind farm is planned. This project intends to use a connection point to the national grid that has previously been used by the decommissioned reactors in Oskarshamn.

We know that wind power, whether it is onshore or offshore, is not predictable and also does not provide the ancillary services to the power grid that particularly southern Sweden is in great need of.

The large-scale planned power has originally been placed geographically, among other things based on grid reasons, for example in the Oskarshamn plant.

A connection of an offshore wind farm would most likely block the construction of new planned power at Oskarshamnsverket for quite a long time ahead.

Mr. Speaker! I therefore have a question for the Minister for Energy. In order to be able to utilize a connection point, a bit of "first come, first served" applies. I believe this highlights a need for an authority to be given responsibility for the entirety of our energy system regarding location, needs, and characteristics. How does the Minister for Energy view this, and what general measures does the Minister believe should be taken?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I would like to start with a bit of butter and thank Lars Engsund for a complicated and very initiated question that points out the big problem that for so many years we have not considered what the energy system as a whole needs and which characteristics should be rewarded – that we do not just pump in more but ensure how we have enough electricity where it is needed and when it is needed at reasonable prices for both households and companies.

This also includes considering whether we should weight what is critical to society and what provides the greatest social benefit, even when capacity is allocated in the power grid. We are therefore looking at how we can develop and expand the system, where electricity production with the right characteristics shall be connected.

It is not about being able to reserve connections, but it is about being able to connect all good forces if we are to be able to meet the electricity needs. But we also need to look at incentives so that those who do the most good also have the opportunity to connect first.

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Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro (S)

Mr. Speaker! In the proposal for electricity support for companies, which has been sent out for consultation, it is stated that the person who receives the electricity support must be a so-called end-user of electricity, and a cap of 20 million kronor has been set. This means that small and medium-sized companies that lack their own electricity subscription and have their electricity billed by property owners could be left without electricity support because the property owner is likely to hit the cap quite quickly when renting out premises to quite many companies.

What is the message from Minister Busch to the small and medium-sized companies that lack electricity subscriptions today and therefore may be left without support?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the question. This is one of the parts that has truly caused a lot of headaches, because it is incredibly difficult to design the system in such a way that it is compatible with the crisis intervention regulation, which is the EU regulatory framework that enables us to be able to use these funds in this way at all, and that it is also compatible with the state aid rules while we want to maintain a high pace and ensure that it comes out as soon as possible.

This demonstrates the difficulty of trying to patch and repair in hindsight regarding a fundamental problem that is not about the bottleneck revenues but is about the fact that we simply do not have enough predictable electricity production, which could prevent us from becoming as vulnerable to the high electricity prices around Europe.

This is a difficult problem to solve, and we will need to work with many other reliefs primarily towards those companies that are hit hard by the high electricity prices and that are not reached by the electricity support.

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Carita Boulwén (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Equality Paulina Brandberg.

During the past week, Sveriges Radio has released a series of articles regarding its review of closer to 300 LVU judgments in Sweden.

In one in three girls' cases, sexual reasons or relationships are raised by the social welfare committee or the court in the judgment, compared to one in sixteen boys' cases.

When a 14-year-old girl was involuntarily committed, the social services committee claimed, for example, that she is easily led and trusting and that she is sexually active despite her young age. In the judgment, it states: There is a risk that she will end up in situations where she is sexually exploited or becomes pregnant at a young age.

In another judgment concerning a 14-year-old girl, it states: Through her behavior, she has allowed herself to be subjected to sexual abuse.

Regardless of what the cause of placement based on own behavior entails, it is important that the exercise of authority is carried out correctly and objectively and that the blame is placed on the perpetrator and not on the victim. Sverigedemokraterna have since they entered the Riksdag been a strong voice in the fight for exactly this.

Does the Minister intend to review the compulsory care of young girls to ensure equal care and a safe treatment during the exercise of authority?

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Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for an important question.

As a Minister, I cannot comment on individual cases, which the member knows. But let me be extremely clear that no one who is subjected to a sexual offense bears any guilt. Regardless of how one dresses and regardless of how one behaves, one never bears the guilt if one is subjected to a sexual offense.

I have taken note of this review, and so has Social Services Minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall. The issue is on her desk, and we will talk about this issue to see if there is anything that needs to be changed moving forward. The signal must, in fact, be crystal clear.

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Emma Ahlström Köster (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is also directed to Minister Brandberg.

Equality is about all people's equal value and the opportunity to live free lives. But in order to be just free and be able to make your own choices, you need to be able to stand on your own both socially and economically.

In Sweden, there are only slightly over 4 million people who are completely self-sufficient. Sweden's labor market exclusion costs society on the order of 270 billion kronor annually. Unemployment has been high for a long time, and Sweden's labor market has also developed worse than the labor market in clearly comparable countries.

The lowest self-sufficiency rate is among foreign-born women. It is evident that the policy that has been prevailing during the last eight years has not functioned in this area. We have failed these women. It does not only affect their own opportunities for self-realization and society, but it obviously also affects their closest family and the generations after them.

I know that the government takes these issues very seriously. But I still wonder what concrete measures the government has so that more women who are far from the labor market can get a job. This is an important measure.

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Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the question. I completely share the view that this is an incredibly important issue. Getting foreign-born women into the labor market is an extremely prioritized issue for the government. Therefore, I can proudly state that the government has just today made a decision aimed precisely at this. This decision means that a joint initiative by SKR and the government will be implemented to reach this group through our open preschools. In the segregated society that we have, it is often very difficult to reach this group with measures at all. We see the open preschool as an opportunity to reach this group.

That is why we have now invested 20 million kronor. It will be an investment that will run during 2023-2025 specifically for the purpose of bringing this group closer to the labor market.

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Johanna Haraldsson (S)

Mr. Speaker! This week, SNS presented a report with the title Sexual harassment at work increases economic inequality. It is stated there that women working in male-dominated industries run three times the risk of being subjected to sexual harassment at work. The report also shows that women who have been subjected to it instead seek out female-dominated workplaces where the wages are often lower.

The report shows, in other words, that sexual harassment contributes to reinforcing both the division between women and men in the labor market and the gender pay gaps.

What does Minister Paulina Brandberg want to do to strengthen the preventive work against sexual harassment at work in order to thereby achieve a better working environment in our workplaces and a more equal labor market?

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Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the question.

No one should have to be subjected to sexual harassment. There must be zero tolerance. Anything else is, of course, not acceptable.

There are two things that must happen here. We must ensure that Arbetsmiljöverket can follow up on this issue as a very important occupational environment issue and have effective means to deploy.

But it is also often a question of sexual harassment that constitutes a crime. Then we must have a justice system that can handle the issues and have adequate punishments so that we, from the side of society, clearly signal in every way that it cannot be accepted in any way.

I completely share the view that this is a problem that is more widespread in typically male-dominated workplaces. If we are to have a labor market where there is a real freedom for both men and women to seek different jobs, this is something that we really must tackle.

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Erik Hellsborn (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Paulina Brandberg.

To ensure the implementation of local work environment work, the number of local safety representatives must increase, as they are lacking in the thousands. In today's model, Social Democratic-led trade unions have a veto right regarding the appointment of local safety representatives.

Unfortunately, this means that a large number of wage earners are excluded from the opportunity to take on this important role, as party affiliation and loyalty to the Social Democratic Workers' Party are valued more highly than competence, suitability, and trust among colleagues.

There are several examples of this. Most recently yesterday, I was informed of a new case in my home region of Halland. It was a representative who was dismissed from their assignment solely with reference to their party affiliation.

My question is: Will the government investigate and review the regulatory framework so that we can give more people the chance to take on the important role of local safety representative?

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Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! Safety representatives fulfill an incredibly important function in our workplaces. It is incredibly important that safety representatives have the conditions to perform their work.

There is much to look at when it comes to safety representatives and how they function. My focus right now lies on investigating whether safety representatives have sufficient conditions to be able to perform their job in the best possible way.

The question raised by the questioner is something that I will follow. But at the present time, there are no proposals being prepared by the government in that area.

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Anna-Caren Sätherberg (S)

Mr. Speaker! Biogas is a fuel that has created both climate benefits and circularity. In 2020, the EU Commission approved continued tax exemption for Sweden.

The tax exemption has now been appealed by the tribunal and declared invalid. Those changes hit the transport sector mercilessly with increased costs of approximately 10 kronor per mile. Many transport companies also have customers, not least the grocery trade, who demand lower emissions to promote the transition.

My question to Minister for Enterprise Ebba Busch is what the government intends to do to handle the unsustainable situation for the transport companies. How will the minister ensure that these costs do not further increase the enormously high food prices, which hit those with the lowest incomes hardest, most often single women with children?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I want to start at the other end. I truly hope for the Social Democrats' support moving forward in the reduction of the reduction obligation when we move forward with it. It has a major impact on food prices and very many entrepreneurs and, in the long run, on very many of the families with the toughest economic margins.

As the member points out, the judgment puts many Swedish companies in a very difficult position. We in the government have made the assessment that we have very limited opportunities to succeed by appealing. Instead, we have aimed to obtain new approvals for tax exemptions as quickly as possible.

We believe that it is important to take a realistic path here. I share the member's view that it hits the companies very hard. That is why we intend to return with proposals for new tax exemptions as soon as it is possible. An appeal could mean that the entire process is dragged out even further. The entrepreneurs cannot afford that.

The question period was hereby concluded.

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