Question Time

TREDJE VICE TALMANNEN

I have just received information that we are to welcome the Speaker of Åland here as an observer during our question period.

(Applause)

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions will be answered today by Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson, Minister Johan Forssell, Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin and Minister Romina Pourmokhtari. Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson will answer both general policy questions as well as questions within his own area of responsibility.

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 relates to his performance of duties. The question shall therefore not concern, for example, conditions within political parties.

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Sofia Amloh (S)

Madam Speaker! The question of why the establishment jobs are delayed has been discussed extensively in recent weeks. The Minister for Employment has, however, promised that they will be in place very soon and that the government will not give in to the Sweden Democrats, who want to stop the reform entirely.

We Social Democrats have been clear that we will act in the Riksdag if the government does not immediately address the issue. Analyzing an issue aimlessly for half a year without taking action is simply not acceptable. But for us Social Democrats, the question is not only about if and when the establishment jobs will be in place, but also how many who will get to share in the reform. Therefore, I want to ask the Minister for Employment if he can promise that the Sweden Democrats' demands to stop the reform will not lead to lower appropriations or fewer establishment jobs than those planned in this year's budget.

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! An active labor market policy with a focus on quality is very important. Labor market policy is for those situations where regular education has not succeeded in making people attractive on the labor market so that they can get the job that is so important for self-sufficiency. Freedom and justice are spelled own employment and own self-sufficiency.

We have submitted proposals for establishment jobs and we have included these in the budget. We have established this and said that it is in progress, but for reasons related to the risk of a negative outcome in the issue of state aid, since the parties have reached an agreement after we have examined the issue in the EU, we are now working intensively to get it in place. I hope that neither the members nor I will be disappointed.

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Sofia Amloh (S)

Madam Speaker! I can state that the Minister can neither promise nor guarantee that there will be any establishment jobs or, in such a case, when and how many there will be. The Minister says that he does what he can, which results in nothing, because it is the Sweden Democrats who decide. I am actually quite worried.

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! Fear is a very strong driving force for people to get something done, but regarding this issue, it is clearly stated in the state budget, and I have clearly declared that we are continuing the work that, among others, the parties have done to produce a transition package. This began in 2017. A government requires precision, in contrast to an opposition where one can turn the crank a bit more.

I can almost promise that we will have this within a short time.

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Nima Gholam Ali Pour (SD)

Madam Speaker! According to the report Knowledge requirements for permanent residence permits which was submitted to the government on Monday, the foreign national who is to be granted a permanent residence permit shall, among other things, pass a listening comprehension test in the Swedish language corresponding to level A2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This means that one must understand sentences such as "what is your name", "where do you live" or "thank you very much". According to the report, such a low level shall suffice for the foreign national to be granted a permanent residence permit.

It is obvious that such a level of language will not be sufficient to enter the labor market. It is a level that corresponds to what a sixth-grader in Sweden needs to know to receive a grade E in English. Does the Minister for Integration consider that knowledge of Swedish at the A2 level is sufficient for a person to be perceived as integrated into society and be granted a permanent residence permit?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! It is very important with requirements and opportunities in integration policy. Perhaps the most important thing for us when people come to Sweden is to make clear to them that in Sweden, one must learn Swedish. It is crucial for integration to become possible. Then one should get a job, become self-sufficient and behave. It is no stranger than that, and then it is just a matter of pushing on and contributing to building Sweden.

We think the investigation's proposal is in the right direction. It is being prepared right now, and I do not want to say so much right now about that direction. We have also stated that we are working on a project for a Sweden course that is much broader and which is intended so that one can understand Swedish society.

Then there are also thoughts regarding citizenship in the final analysis. For my party and for the government, it is central that we strengthen the requirements for Swedish so that people can be integrated into Sweden.

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Nima Gholam Ali Pour (SD)

Madam Speaker! I would like to thank the Minister for Employment and Integration for the answer. A failed integration policy has been pursued for decades, and the result of this can be seen in Sweden's areas with high concentrations of immigrants.

It is important that we moving forward have a more requirement-based policy towards immigrants where we set the same requirements on immigrants as we set on the rest of the population. We will all win by ending the racism of low expectations and instead see the potential in all people, even those who come from another country.

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! I like that last point from the questioner: to see the potential and to see people's opportunities to contribute in Sweden. Regardless of whether one comes here because of a relationship with someone, or whether one comes as a labor migrant, or whether one has sought and received asylum, one has much to contribute.

We must have clear rules. My basic perception, however, is that there should be a different requirement for the level of Swedish when it comes to residence permits than what one might think is needed to be able to become a citizen in Sweden. In that case, the requirements can be increased slightly. It is thus two different tests.

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Andrea Andersson Tay (V)

Madam Speaker! The Government has established that formal protection of forests shall primarily occur voluntarily from the landowner's side. At the same time, there are parliamentary decisions that forests of conservation value shall not be felled and that deviations from voluntariness in formal protection may be made when justified, for example if the specific area should be preserved as a result of international commitments or for other particularly urgent public interests. What particularly urgent public interests means is not defined.

My question is addressed to the Minister for Climate and Environment. When are there grounds for deviating from voluntariness, for example, for an area described as particularly worthy of protection in a national and also international perspective because the area houses a very large number of red-listed species and consists of the forest type lime pine forest with long forest continuity, which is a prioritized forest type to achieve Sweden's international commitments? Is it sufficient to make exceptions from the principle that protection of forest shall be voluntary?

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! Sweden is a forest country. The forest in all its forms is perhaps our most valuable natural resource in terms of limiting and meeting climate change, an economic resource, and above all, an invaluable and unique source of biodiversity. This is something to be protected in many ways.

The government, for example, continues to invest in the protection of valuable nature and decided on a total of 1.2 billion kronor for this in the 2023 budget bill.

Regarding continuous cover forestry, there are no legal obstacles to applying continuous cover forestry, and we safeguard the management principle and believe that Swedish forest owners, together with contractors, can find new ways to create both sustainable business ideas and sustainable ecosystems with long-lasting vitality.

We believe that the principle of public administration works well, and we are working hard to safeguard sustainable Swedish forestry in various ways.

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Andrea Andersson Tay (V)

Madam Speaker! The area I mentioned in my question is called Garphytteklint and is located in Örebro. The County Administrative Board has tried to protect the forest, but the landowner does not want to. The authority has then chosen not to establish a nature reserve with reference to the new direction regarding voluntariness. The municipality has stepped in and tried to stop the logging but was refused by the County Administrative Board.

If even an area with such high natural values as Garphytteklint cannot be guaranteed protection, how will the government then ensure that forests worthy of protection are not logged?

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! It is an important question how we can best manage and protect forests that are important for our natural values. But it is also the case that Sweden has for a long time had forest owners who have in a good way managed the forests they own. In many cases, they have been able to protect forests to a greater extent than other parties who, for example, have had a public role.

This is a question where we believe the idea of stewardship does good. We will not force any Swedish forest owners to act in any specific way, but we hope that the forest is protected in the way it has traditionally been done.

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Christofer Bergenblock (C)

Madam Speaker! A week ago, I attended a parliamentary seminar on the opportunities for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind people to enter the workforce in Sweden.

The great limitation today is the possibility of interpretation in the workplace because it is not regarded as a right. Instead, it is the individual employer who has to bear the majority of the cost. This issue was highlighted in the report from the 2020 interpretation services investigation, where a state responsibility for the interpretation service is proposed, channeled via Arbetsförmedlingen. The referral process was completed in September last year, and a majority view the proposal positively, not least the various interest organizations.

My question to Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson is: How does the Minister view the inquiry's proposals to improve access to interpretation services in order to make it easier to enter the workforce?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for a very important question.

People who need an interpreter because they have a hearing impairment or are deaf are managed today by the regions, just as if they were sick. That is not the case, but they are people who can contribute in a comprehensive and good way to the Swedish labor market.

When it comes to the regulatory framework for when one is entitled to an interpreter today, a significant amount of the interpretation service is designed so that one shall receive certain support and certain help that one is entitled to at a workplace. It is correct that this today is to some extent channeled via Arbetsförmedlingen. The support measures do not therefore only go via the regions. It becomes a passive presence.

I do not in any way exclude an improvement of the interpretation support so that more people can enter the labor market, and I am preparing this with responsible ministers at the Ministry of Social Affairs. This is the goal.

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Christofer Bergenblock (C)

Madam Speaker! Just as the Minister himself pointed out, the proposal from the 2020 interpretation services investigation is about giving people the opportunity for participation in society, and participation in working life is one of the most important prerequisites for this.

At the seminar I attended, all parties spoke positively about the content of the committee's report, not least the representatives of the Liberals. Therefore, I would like to hear the minister state clearly where they stand on this issue and when we can expect a government bill on this to be on the floor of the Riksdag.

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! The Government's view is that we must ensure that people have the right to this type of interpretation. It is not some kind of charity, but it is a matter of rights. One must be able to contribute, one must be able to work, and one must be able to do so in various positions in the business sector, organizations, and public administration. It is very important.

The Government is preparing the question of whether it would be better if it were moved. The goal is that people should receive interpretation and that they should receive this in those cases where it is required for a modern labor market. It is this result we are looking for, not organizational changes in the state administration.

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Jacob Risberg (MP)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell. Both I and my two pupils Alvin and Leo, who have helped me with today's question and who are sitting in the gallery here today, and many others around the world have been deeply saddened and upset by the new, frightening legislation in Uganda, which can, among other things, mean the death penalty for homosexuals.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has tweeted that the government will now review the new law and assess how the government can best work towards a change. The Minister also mentions that he has conveyed criticism to the Ugandan government, but criticism is often perceived as merely empty words if it is not followed by action.

My question to the Minister is therefore: How does the government intend to work for a change that instead strengthens the rights and safety of LGBTQI people in Uganda?

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Statsrådet Johan Forssell (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for the question, Alvin and Leo!

We in the government have looked at this issue ever since the bill was submitted a few months ago. It is a deplorable bill in every way, and the proposal has now been confirmed by the president. Now, it seems it is being appealed to Uganda's Supreme Court. We are following this issue closely, and we are doing so on the ground.

Our position on the matter itself is crystal clear. All people have the right to love whomever they want. It is deplorable legislation. Unfortunately, Uganda is no exception in that regard, as we see the same tendency in large parts of the region.

We will now look closely at what consequences this can have for our collective engagement in Uganda. It is not just about aid but also about our diplomatic relations. Sweden is a major aid donor to Uganda. Now, the vast majority of the support goes to various CSOs, but there is also a considerable amount of UN support.

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Jacob Risberg (MP)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer!

For a long time, the EU has worked to achieve a trade agreement with the East African Community, an agreement that today would most likely contribute to legitimizing, among other things, the regime in Uganda.

In light of the fact that support to Africa now risks being cut significantly in the government's slaughter of aid, I want to ask: Can the Minister for Development Cooperation instead consider increasing the financial support to the organizations that work to strengthen the rights of hbtqi persons and those who work legally to try to appeal Uganda's new and horrific legislation?

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Statsrådet Johan Forssell (M)

Madam Speaker! We are now leaving the old and ineffective aid policy, of which the Green Party is largely the architect. There, trade and aid have been two different parts. We are now leaving it because it has not functioned. The results are far too poor. We see that both in Uganda and in a long line of other countries.

We believe very much in trade as a positive force so that more people can do what they have not succeeded in doing under the old aid policy, namely lift themselves out of poverty and create growth and economic conditions to be able to secure a better life and not have to be affected by their parents' poverty. We will continue to work with this in the new government.

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Lars Püss (M)

Madam Speaker! For over a year, we have been able to follow the unjust war of aggression that Russia is waging against Ukraine. War crimes are piling up by the batch and by the minute, and the efforts for Ukrainian society have been enormous. Electricity supply, food, medical equipment - the list of missing supplies can be as long as one likes.

It is obvious that many countries are currently reviewing their own strategies regarding both military and civil defense. Here in Sweden, the work on upgrading our own capabilities within total defense has been intensified to the highest degree.

I see, however, for my part, that the challenges are greatest in precisely the civil area, because we are essentially starting from scratch.

What does Minister Bohlin consider to be the most important lessons from the war in Ukraine to take with into the work of strengthening civil defense?

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Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Lars Püss for the question.

I arrived on Saturday, together with the Minister for Defence, home from a trip to Ukraine. The experiences from there are, of course, many and strong.

The conclusions here in Sweden from all actors who have a role in the Swedish total defense, which is all Swedes, all authorities, all companies, all municipalities and all regions, should be that we must understand that a war is ongoing on the European continent at a shorter distance than from here to Luleå. We need to work where we stand. That means I do not want to hear anyone say that we cannot do anything because we do not have resources. Everyone needs to dig where they stand. The Government is injecting more than 1 billion kronor into civil defense, in addition to the path that was established in the defense decision. But everyone must dig where they stand right now.

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Lars Püss (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for the answer, Carl-Oskar Bohlin. The area of civil defense spans a very large number of issues, and many of them do not even fall within the Ministry of Defence. It is not only about our ability to withstand an armed attack but also about being able to handle crises of various kinds.

Where does the Minister see the greatest challenges right now, besides those he has just mentioned, in order for us to be able to increase our capacity within civil defense?

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Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! Collectively, I can say that civil defense is very much about building a society without weak links. We know what our weak links are. We must plug them, and we must create a broader robustness across the board so as not to open vulnerabilities where an antagonist can exploit and attack Sweden. This is a task that takes place in every department. It means that we are restoring total defense planning in Sweden, and I see that as a very central and important task.

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Magnus Jacobsson (KD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for the Environment.

The Riksdag has previously signaled in an announcement that it wants the review of hydropower to take place in a more positive way based on hydropower's conditions and that consideration must also be given to EU law. In the same way, the Tidö Agreement emphasizes fish migration routes, cultural history, more electricity supply, and that there should not be unreasonable costs.

Despite all these very clear signals, we unfortunately see that authority officials continue to make it difficult for small-scale hydropower. We know that small-scale hydropower could increase its production if it were given completely different conditions. LRF makes the assessment that it concerns approximately 3,500 hydropower plants that have the capacity to provide us with stable energy.

My question is: What is the government doing now to facilitate small-scale hydropower?

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank Member Jacobsson for a good question.

We have paused the environmental assessments of the hydropower that have been ongoing. We have done this simply because we have an incredibly fragile energy system right now. We in this government are, of course, keen to conduct proper environmental assessments. But to do so under the conditions that have been used previously, we do not believe hits the mark in the right way. Therefore, this is paused for one year.

This year, we naturally want to take advantage of this by engaging in a dialogue with those who own small-scale hydropower, but also by reviewing how these assessments are conducted so that they can be carried out in a more appropriate manner.

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Magnus Jacobsson (KD)

Madam Speaker! I think it is very good that the government has paused the environmental assessments. Unfortunately, the authorities have not paused, and processes are ongoing where they more or less impose themselves on small-scale hydropower. I have seen it at home in Uddevalla, which is deeply regrettable.

But there is also another side that we have talked very little about in this process, and that is the 10,000-11,000 dams that actually protect our water. We see now that the climate is unfortunately becoming warmer. It will probably mean that we get more water shortages. LRF points out that there are 10,000-11,000 dams that need to be managed. What is the government doing to protect these dams as well?

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! We are conducting a very diligent work with a lot of dialogue, even with those who own the hydropower. That is particularly important. It is regrettable to hear what the member points out about authorities in different ways doing things that in a negative way affect those who own hydropower. We will take a look at what applies there. It is the case that those who own these hydropower plants want to ensure that their hydropower is managed and that they have a good environment for both fish and other species that live in the water.

We know, therefore, that through cooperation it is possible to find good ways that safeguard both the energy supply and the environment.

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Amir Jawad (L)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Romina Pourmokhtari.

Right now, extensive work is underway regarding the upcoming climate policy action plan, where several instances are invited to participate in this rather important process. In this preparatory work, the role of the municipalities has been highlighted quite frequently. The municipalities play an important role in this as stakeholders and as local actors who have good knowledge of the local business community.

If one looks at southern Sweden, Lund, Malmö and not least Helsingborg are climate leaders in many respects.

In view of the ongoing work, my question to the Minister for Climate and Environment is: In what way does the Minister and the Government intend to include municipalities and regions in the upcoming climate policy action plan?

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank Member Jawad for a good question.

Municipalities and regions are truly absolutely crucial in terms of how we fulfill and implement our entire transition of society. This concerns very many different parts, largely so that the industries operating in our various municipalities and regions can be able to transition. That can mean, for example, contributing to Sweden's competitiveness by ensuring that the new, green industries know that there are well-functioning community services around them. It can concern things such as school, healthcare, and housing for employees. It is therefore also about the municipalities' and regions' classic matters that are to be provided.

In addition to that, we know that there is a great commitment to working for the transition, and we are having a good dialogue with all parties. I cannot anticipate this any further and tell what will be stated in the climate action plan. But of course, the municipalities and regions are deeply involved in the transition for Sweden itself.

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Amir Jawad (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for a very good answer. I am very pleased with the government's position and that municipalities and regions are seen as a very positive force in the upcoming work. And I look forward to following this development.

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! There are, as said, many proposals in the current draft - as much as I can say - which of course concern our municipalities and regions, but they are also dependent on the budget process. One simply has to wait and see and look forward to the proposals that we are working on.

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Arwin Sohrabi (S)

Madam Speaker! The waste industry is one of a handful of industries where CCS is the primary opportunity to remove the fossil carbon dioxide.

The government has presented a mandate to investigate measures for capturing and using carbon dioxide. However, the government has stated that the purpose of the investigation is to support the transition of cement production and refineries. It is therefore currently highly unclear whether this track will be designed to suit waste incineration plants or if these are even to be included in the investigation. Since the waste industry, for example the Scania-based Sysav, is already studying solutions with CCS today, this announcement creates some unwelcome uncertainty.

This type of investment requires long-term perspective, not least in the financing. Otherwise, there is a risk that Sweden will miss out on opportunities for enormous emission reductions. My question to Minister Pourmokhtari is therefore in what way the Minister sees that the investment support should be designed so that CCS projects can be realized even within the waste industry.

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank Member Sohrabi for a very wise question.

Carbon dioxide capture and other technologies, such as CCS and also BECCS, can be used within many different sectors. What we are very keen on - and I assume that even a party like the Social Democrats is keen on it - is that CCS and carbon capture technology should not stand in the way of emission reductions. We must work very hard to ensure that all the activities that generate emissions reduce them; that must be the focus in our climate transition work.

There are, however, sectors where it is simply not possible to use such technologies, and carbon capture is obviously an excellent means for the transition of those sectors. We designate cement production and refineries as examples of these, but opening up for other sectors that absolutely do not have the possibility to transition in other ways is something that can be reviewed.

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Arwin Sohrabi (S)

Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer, and I thank you for the commitment – even though there was some lack of clarity in the answer regarding whether the investment support will also cover the waste industry. I want to point out once again that this very industry is one of a handful of industries where CCS is the primary opportunity. I therefore continue to look forward to learning what the government plans to do in this area. I also hope that the waste industry can be included in the upcoming investigation.

I thank you once again for the answer.

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member again for a wise question. I have no announcements to give right now regarding exactly how we handle this sector when it comes to investment opportunities for CCS. I would, however, like to point out that our general principle is that carbon capture should apply in cases where there are no alternative possibilities. That is precisely why we identify cement production and refineries as examples where, as it looks right now, there are actually no available technologies to scale up.

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Yasmine Eriksson (SD)

Madam Speaker! I direct my question to Minister Forssell.

Since Sweden received a new government, the work to improve international aid has been able to begin. A necessary reforming of how the Swedish aid billions are used is, as is known, underway. During this time, the government has tasked Sida with reporting on how development cooperation is used to generate further engagement and funding from, among others, the private sector. The agency was also tasked with analyzing the possibility of strengthening the Swedish business sector's role in development cooperation.

My question is therefore what lessons and conclusions the Minister has been able to draw from Sida's reports on the subject and whether we can expect a greater presence of Swedish investments in developing countries going forward.

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Statsrådet Johan Forssell (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Yasmine Eriksson for the question.

It is true that we are in the process of a major change of the entire Swedish aid policy. I want to point out that the change is driven by the recipient countries, which themselves are constantly demanding more investments, more trade, and more companies coming to them and creating long-term growth. They want less of the temporary aid initiatives whose results are rarely particularly long-term. That they are not is seen in the fact that very many countries that for many years have received a lot of aid continue to be exactly dependent on foreign aid.

The conclusions are therefore that we must bring trade and aid together in a completely different way than before. Work is currently underway on this; 2023 will be a year of change for much of the aid policy. When it comes to specifically the Swedish business sector, I can state that it lags far behind in several areas that are acute in many of these countries - not least the green transition.

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Yasmine Eriksson (SD)

Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer.

When we now carry out a reorganization of the aid policy, we have intended to have a connection to migration and make more efforts to counter migration. Trade can be a part of that by lifting people out of poverty, but we also want to place greater demands on countries to repatriate their citizens in cases where Sweden wants to deport them. How does the government view the potential for success in achieving this?

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Statsrådet Johan Forssell (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the follow-up question. It is true that we have problems with a number of countries not doing what they actually have an international law obligation to do, namely taking in their own citizens. There, we believe that making parts of the aid conditional can be an important instrument, of course together with many others, in the bilateral dialogue to ensure that these countries take their responsibility. Such work is currently underway, and I have personally conducted talks regarding this with recipient countries. I am hopeful that it will yield results.

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Emma Nohrén (MP)

Madam Speaker! I would like to ask a question to the Minister for Climate and the Environment, Romina Pourmokhtari. It concerns the reduced budget for the management and protection of valuable nature – primarily management.

The government has removed 45 percent of the budget for this, which we have discussed many times in the chamber during the last half year. But now in the spring, we see the result and the difficult trade-offs being made out in the country. To reduce the budget now when it actually costs more money to manage nature is devastating. With climate change, we get higher costs as we have a longer growing season and other species. We have almsjuka, which gives fragile, large trees that make it dangerous to be out. We also see invasive species coming in.

I have received questions from contractors. They wonder: Should we save three-hundred-year-old oaks or a hay meadow with endangered species? Should we continue managing an area with endangered wild bees, or should we continue the work with invasive species? These things stand against each other. What does the government intend to do?

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! Many have chosen to focus on a comparison between previous years' budget and this one, and then the cuts become as large as mentioned because in last year's budget, almost 4 billion were spent solely on the protection of valuable nature. It is indeed fantastic when one can spend such sums, but I do not believe it escapes anyone that Sweden is currently not in a position where it would be serious to spend 4 billion on the protection of valuable nature.

The government is investing over 2 billion on the protection and management of valuable nature, and those are important funds that are there and will do good. In addition, there are also specific funds of 50 million to the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management for work against just invasive species in seas and waters. We are therefore doing a lot, but I understand that one would have wished that we could always spend large sums on all areas. Unfortunately, we are not in such a position financially, and in these times we need to take responsibility.

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Emma Nohrén (MP)

Madam Speaker! When it comes to the management of valuable nature, the fact is that the work that has been done in recent years is being undone and will cost even more to redo. We are now seeing a depletion of biodiversity, and if we cannot continue the work with managed lands, many species will simply be gone forever. I also receive questions from the few small-scale farmers who remain and who manage the lands, asking if they must slaughter their animals because they do not have the possibility to keep them.

These are important issues for us to both follow our national laws and fulfill our international commitments. Does the Minister say that it is not important?

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

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! Of course it is an important task, but we are in a time when everyone needs to make priorities. If we look at how much money we spend on these items, this is not a low budget historically. Our climate and environment budget this mandate period is the second largest in modern times. It is such a budget even given the economic situation, as we know that things cost more, but we are in a time when we cannot spend sums such as 4 billion solely on the protection of valuable nature.

We in the government are working hard to achieve a stronger economy so that we can invest more in the future in things that are very important - such as the protection and maintenance of valuable nature.

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

Merit Frost Lindberg (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is directed to Minister for Employment Johan Pehrson.

Access to personnel with the right competence is a prerequisite for the Swedish business community moving forward. Today, however, a shortage of competence is one of the absolute biggest growth barriers. A recruitment that fails to materialize costs the individual company but also society. That companies cannot recruit leads to jobs that could have been created being lost, to tax revenues that could have strengthened our welfare being left out, and to the social services and security that come with the presence of companies instead being worsened. This is not an entrepreneur issue, but it is a future issue for Sweden.

We have today far too high unemployment at the same time as companies do not have access to staff. There are too few people who can perform the jobs and too few people who want to perform the jobs. My question is therefore: How can we solve the problems with matching on the Swedish labor market?

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

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for the question.

Every krona that this chamber spends is created by people working and, before that, by having educated themselves. That is how prosperity is created. That is how we have the opportunity for welfare. That is how we create a strong Sweden and a safer Sweden.

Sweden is in a difficult situation where far too many people are far away from the labor market. Even though long-term unemployment has decreased slightly, we see that this is a very large problem. Therefore, we are investing heavily in vocational colleges, adult vocational education, and measures from Arbetsförmedlingen for subsidized employment to ensure that people get the competence that is needed. This can range from bus drivers and electricians to bakers, teachers, and nursing assistants. All of this is needed to build Sweden and create freedom.

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

Merit Frost Lindberg (M)

Madam Speaker! We have a specific group that stands very far from the labor market. I am speaking of foreign-born people – above all, foreign-born women. What can we do to specifically strengthen just this group in the labor market?

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

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! A major issue here is the Swedish language. I meet people who want to hire and who may have been in contact with Arbetsförmedlingen and asked if there is anyone they can help into the labor market. They may meet someone who is the subject of help and support through the actors at Arbetsförmedlingen who deal with equipping and matching. It is often about the Swedish language. From this government's side, we therefore place a very strong focus on the Swedish language – it facilitates things.

Not least, it is also about the fact that one can do work on-site and within yrkesvux, both work a little bit and study Swedish a little bit. Then, eventually, one gets a job.

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

Ingemar Kihlström (KD)

Madam Speaker! I would like to direct my questions to the Minister for Civil Defence, Carl-Oskar Bohlin.

Through the terrible war of aggression from Russia against Ukraine, we have become aware of human tragedies but also of the enormous strains that a war entails on a society. Targeted attacks on civilian targets and functions make us realize that the ability to manage a war or crisis situation does not only involve the military defense but also how the civil defense can provide support and help to the citizens. Society needs, for example, to be able to quickly restore electricity supply, water supply, and communication systems after targeted attacks.

How does the Minister assess that Sweden should further act to secure a functioning society in a crisis situation, especially based on the examples from Ukraine?

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Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Ingemar Kihlström for a very pressing question, which naturally requires a much longer answer than just one minute. I will, however, mention some of the things we are currently doing alongside the total defense planning that I mentioned in my answer to a previous question.

A direct consequence of the experiences from Ukraine is that the government is now working on a fast track to, for example, activate civil service within the sector of municipal rescue services. This is because we see a large upcoming need during high alert or, at the very least, an armed attack regarding the civil rescue service, which, in addition to regular tasks, has to handle ammunition clearance, marking, handling of collapsed buildings, and so on.

Another very large and important issue that we are working on is the entire supply readiness, which we need to take a collective grip on. We are doing exactly this right now and will return with more announcements in the near future.

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Ingemar Kihlström (KD)

Madam Speaker! In a crisis situation, just as the Minister mentioned, it is important that society has preparedness when it comes to food, fuel, and medicines. We see, for example, that our neighboring country Finland has for a long time established systems and stockpiles to ensure that one can meet this need.

What lessons does the Minister see that we can draw from Finland and perhaps other European countries when it comes to ensuring the availability of these important goods?

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

Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! The lessons that can be drawn from Finland are many. I made my first trip in my capacity as a minister to precisely Finland to look at how they work with the supply preparedness there. There, they have their own agency called the Supply Preparedness Centre.

We will in the near future receive the findings of an investigation from a special investigator who has looked into exactly this and who will propose mechanisms and functions for it. I look forward to driving this work further.

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

Matilda Ernkrans (S)

Madam Speaker! Sweden is the chair of the EU for four more weeks. I hope that the Liberal Johan Pehrson feels that this time as chair has been utilized to the maximum and that the government during these months has strengthened Sweden's role in the EU and gotten more Swedes engaged in EU issues - otherwise, it would have been a bit of wasted time.

This time as chair of the council must be something like Christmas Eve for a liberal. At the same time, the Liberals' friends here at home in Sweden have a completely different view – they do not see this as an opportunity, but they see the EU cooperation as a straitjacket.

I want to ask Johan Pehrson how he views the Sweden Democrats' influence, and how this has affected the Speakership and the government's opportunities to pursue Sweden's priorities.

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! We view the cooperation in the EU very positively. It has served this nation well. Sweden's prosperity has grown, and the opportunities for, not least, trade have meant a great deal. People's opportunities to travel, educate themselves, and work wherever they want in Europe is a strength in this part of the world, which is the bastion of democracy.

During this presidency, we have worked for Sweden to contribute to Europe becoming greener, stronger, and safer. It is about securing the climate transition in our part of the world. It is about working for security and against the heinous war in Ukraine. It is also about strengthening Europe's competitiveness, so that Europe can manage in the future.

This is what we in the government have done together, and we have regularly been at the EU Committee and the EU Committee's vice chairman and anchored our positions. So far, we have taken many positions that have moved forward. Now we are just waiting for it to also go well on Fit for 55.

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

Alexander Christiansson (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin.

Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine has made it clear that cultural heritage is part of civil defense. Cultural heritage unfortunately becomes a clear target during war. We have seen that – Russia has systematically bombed parts of Ukraine's cultural heritage.

We can observe that the Swedish preparedness regarding cultural heritage is lagging. It is clear that previous governments have hardly prioritized this issue at all.

The protection of cultural heritage in the event of a crisis or war is regulated in several different laws, for example in the Cultural Environment Act and the Archives Act. The Museums Act also states that museums shall actively manage and protect their collections.

Several state museums today do not have bomb-proof warehouses that are suitable in the event of a crisis or conflict. Thus, invaluable collections risk being without protection in the event of a crisis or conflict.

What is the government doing to guarantee that cultural heritage is protected? Will you review the need and which sites are best suited to build new warehouses to protect cultural heritage in the event of crisis or conflict?

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

Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Alexander Christiansson for an important question.

Let me begin by saying that the work in the Government Offices is so distributed that the issue of the protection of cultural heritage lies with the Minister for Culture. With that said, the questioner is entirely correct that the protection of cultural heritage is an indispensable part of civil defense.

In Ukraine, we see how Russia is engaged in trying to erase parts of the Ukrainian identity, and we naturally need to draw conclusions from this. That is precisely why it is gratifying that the government has given the Swedish National Heritage Board a mandate in this area. The Minister for Culture and I visited one of our state museums together, and I could then joyfully observe that they had begun working on issues such as, for example, removal. Much more needs to be done in the area, and the government is therefore continuing to work on these issues.

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Elin Söderberg (MP)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Employment Johan Pehrson and concerns skills supply.

Sweden has a great need for labor moving forward, and both the business sector and the welfare sector are demanding more competence. This is particularly acute in northern Sweden, where we see a great need for personnel for industry and welfare and where communities need to be expanded quickly.

What is Minister Johan Pehrson doing to ensure the supply of skills in the near term, not least in northern Sweden?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! It is pleasing that large investments are taking place in Sweden and that many countries and companies see that Sweden is the place to be. We see it in Karlskrona, Ludvika, Timrå and other parts of Sweden. It is fantastic.

The government is therefore investing in vocational colleges and adult education for vocational purposes so that people who are not working today can quickly become part of the labor force that is in demand. We are transitioning and pushing forward so that universities will offer courses so that batteries can be built in more parts of Sweden than now.

All of this is very important, but with opportunities come also demands. We must be clear that people must apply for the jobs that exist. Healthy adults shall work. A-kassa and unemployment benefits are important as transition compensation when there are no jobs. But if there are jobs to apply for, one shall apply for them.

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Oliver Rosengren (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is directed to Minister Pehrson.

All people are needed in Sweden, and everyone obviously has an obligation to make an effort and a duty to do their best to find a job. But politics also has a responsibility to ensure that people receive the right support and have high expectations placed upon them. To set requirements is, as is well known, to care.

That is why I am concerned when I take note of the latest report from the Unemployment Insurance Inspectorate regarding the fact that the state, through its agency Arbetsförmedlingen, fails to meet its requirements for job seekers. According to the regulation, the state shall set requirements on both the number of jobs they apply for as well as the geographical spread and industry breadth of the jobs they apply for. The Inspectorate shows, however, that Arbetsförmedlingen only follows up on the requirement regarding the number of jobs applied for and thus misses two important requirements.

How does the government ensure that the state sets requirements and cares about all job seekers?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! It is very important that we have these oversight bodies that see how our authorities and welfare systems function. The idea is that the right support should be given to the right person. It is an important safety issue, and therefore the government has increased the unemployment insurance. But to protect the unemployment insurance, we must also keep track of that those persons who do not need unemployment insurance do not receive unemployment insurance.

The report from IAF that Oliver Rosengren refers to is central, and we must also listen to what Arbetsförmedlingen can do to strengthen these control factors. As said, it is not enough to apply for a lot of jobs, but one must also increase the search geographically and by industry. Perhaps one can imagine transitioning through labor market training and transition support to change careers. Healthy adults must work, because that is how we pay for the welfare.

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Joakim Järrebring (S)

Madam Speaker! Food packaging plays an important role in the European and thus the Swedish food system by facilitating access to food at affordable prices, reduced food waste, and protection for consumers.

The European Commission's proposal for a regulation, PPWR, contains measures that would limit the use of single-use packaging within the hotel and restaurant sector and packaging for fruit and vegetables. All of these measures will affect food safety, generate more food waste, and affect the logistics in the food chain and food prices. Some of the measures, for example, the ban on single-use within the hotel and restaurant sector, will lead to reusable packaging having to be washed after each use. This is estimated to increase freshwater consumption by up to 4 billion liters.

The European Commission has not presented any impact assessment of the effects of PPWR. Will the Minister for Environment and Climate ensure that the Commission provides a thorough impact assessment of PPWR's impact on the European food system?

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

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank Joakim Järrebring for an important question.

It is fantastic how much legislation is being developed at the EU level so that we can manage the climate crisis, reduce our emissions, and achieve more circular systems. When we produce packaging and other products over and over again from new raw material extraction, we contribute enormously to the climate crisis. This we must avoid by legislating on packaging directives that create more circular systems, and of course, these systems must be wisely designed and not cause unnecessary problems.

As chair of the council, Sweden naturally works to ensure that these proposals are feasible, easy to apply, and contribute to our economies remaining strong while addressing the core problem, which is the most important thing here: how we can achieve more circular systems. It is something that I am sure Member Järrebring also safeguards.

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

Beatrice Timgren (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for the Environment.

In a new judgment, the limestone quarrying in Gåsgruvan near Filipstad is stopped by the Land and Environment Court despite the County Administrative Board not objecting to the quarrying. The background is that the wastewater must have a lower content of uranium than drinking water.

Limestone is an important resource for Sweden, and if we cannot mine it here, we must import it, which leads to increased emissions. The environmental impact will not decrease because the limestone is mined in other countries.

It is important to discuss how our legislation affects Swedish companies and their environmental impact. What does the minister think about this situation? Does the government intend to act in light of the fact that the limestone quarrying in Gåsgruvan is being stopped?

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

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! Let me point out to the member that I cannot comment on individual court cases.

There are examinations of governments but also of courts when granting permits for various activities. This also applies to limestone quarrying. In those cases where permits are examined by a court, the law is, of course, followed.

From a political perspective, we naturally need to ensure that our laws are designed in such a way that they protect our society. When we see that there are specific areas that are vital to society, for example where Sweden needs access to certain raw materials, we naturally need to design the legislation in such a way that it protects that purpose.

It would therefore be inappropriate to involve oneself in the actual court cases. The Government intends, however, to ensure that the legislation is wisely designed so that we can both manage the climate crisis and protect our environment in a better way in the future.

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Annika Hirvonen (MP)

Madam Speaker! Our internship student tells about her classmate in grade eight. Every day she walks around with a lump in her stomach, wondering when the border police will carry out the deportation of her. She was born here, 15 years old.

I wonder if Johan Pehrson is prepared to tackle the appalling situation that children in Sweden live in today.

Yesterday, Princess's classmate's mother called me. Princess is ten years old and is to be deported to Nigeria. UD advises against all travel there for Swedes. Princess was born and raised in Sweden and cannot make herself understood in English yet. She is in third grade.

Children's rights weigh very little, despite the Convention on the Rights of the Child being made into Swedish law. Children's rights in Sweden must be strengthened, for all children who have been born and grown up here.

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! The world is terribly unjust. We must ensure that we in Sweden safeguard the right to asylum. We must ensure that people who receive a decision that they are granted asylum in Sweden are allowed to stay and that it happens as quickly as possible.

It is not strange that people want to leave countries where the conditions are difficult and poverty is great. These people may seek to come to Sweden but are not allowed to stay, receive a rejection. Even though it may be painful in many cases, that process must occur in a legally secure and efficient manner. The person or the family who receives a rejection must then also leave Sweden, otherwise we cannot maintain the regulated immigration and, in the long term, secure the right of asylum for those people whom we have committed to give protection in the country of Sweden.

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Saila Quicklund (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Employment Johan Pehrson.

That as many as possible work is central to our current but also future prosperity. Sweden, however, has today very large integration challenges in the form of exclusion and benefit dependency, which need to be met with measures in many different areas.

A large proportion of the immigrants who have arrived during recent decades have not established themselves on the Swedish labor market. The difference in unemployment between foreign-born and Swedish-born individuals is far too great. Today, far too many foreign-born individuals stand far away from the labor market, and the exclusion is also a great tragedy for those who are affected.

My question to the Minister for Employment is therefore: What measures is the government now taking to get more foreign-born people into work?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! I have said it before today: It is about the focus on Swedish. If one has not learned Swedish in the first year, the third year, the fifth year, or the seventh year, we must start today. There is no point in crying over spilled milk. The Swedish language is absolutely crucial. It can be very difficult, but it is never unnecessary. One must learn Swedish.

That is why we are making and will continue to make major changes within SFI. Precisely because it is so difficult to work with adult education for a profession, a job, combined with language teaching, we are trying to merge them and help there. It has proven to be very effective.

We also make supportive efforts so that women in, for example, vulnerable areas can organize themselves more easily, break the isolation from and distance to the rest of society, and improve integration. There is nothing that is as good for these women's freedom as getting a job and earning their own money. It is a freedom reform that would be gigantic.

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Malin Larsson (S)

Madam Speaker! The Government's and the Sweden Democrats' decision to lower the reduction obligation to 6 percent risks entailing serious consequences for Swedish jobs and companies, for the green transition, for ordinary people, and for the climate. Compensatory measures will be required. It could involve speed limits, congestion charges, or a reprioritization of Swedish tax funds toward the purchase of emission allowances abroad.

A consequence analysis needs to be included in the proposal that the government refers for so that the referral bodies and the Riksdag can take a position on the proposal for reduced reduction obligation in a serious way. My question to the Minister for Climate and the Environment is therefore: Will the government refer a consolidated proposal where the reduction and its consequences for Swedish companies, households and motorists, as well as Sweden's self-sufficiency of biofuels, are presented?

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! Questions concerning exactly how the implementation of the reduction of the reduction obligation shall be handled lie on the desk of Energy Minister Ebba Busch. The government has, however, announced well in advance that our changes to the reduction obligation shall come into effect from January 1, 2024. That is the date that applies for the public to take into account, but also for us who work on how we shall achieve the climate goals.

An amendment of the reduction obligation will have major consequences for our climate policy, and this government is well aware of that, at least. But we want to be wise enough not to put all our eggs in one basket in the way that has led to Sweden having uniquely high fuel prices, the highest in all of Europe, and also empties the entire European market of biofuels. We must have a smarter climate policy than that.

When we finally present the climate policy, regardless of what form it takes, it will be ambitious but also effective and safeguard the Swedish economy and Swedish households.

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Michael Rubbestad (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson.

According to a new compilation from SCB, income inequalities are increasing across the entire country. In three out of four municipalities, the proportion of residents living in households with a low economic standard increased during the years 2015-2021, and according to the latest statistics, 14.2 percent of Sweden's population live in households with a low economic standard.

Some common tools to counter the development are usually to promote education and skills development, to promote economic growth with support for business establishments and entrepreneurship, to invest in sectors that have the potential to create high-quality jobs and to facilitate access to economic resources and capital, to mention a few examples.

My question is therefore: How does the Minister for Employment and Integration and the government intend to act to reverse this negative trend?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! Yes, that is no easy nut to crack. For many years we have seen a development where social exclusion leads to increased economic vulnerability, which is hardly surprising. The excessively high unemployment in our country has contributed to that.

I still believe that it starts in school. There is nothing more important than ensuring that young people complete primary school and then also receive a passing high school grade. If one has such in hand, the possibilities for an independent life and for being able to shape one's own life in a way that provides good opportunities to escape economic vulnerability increase.

It does not prevent us, from the government's side, from doing things in the difficult crisis today, for example, that we are increasing and extending the housing supplement for vulnerable families with children. We are doing that here and now, because we know that many are struggling financially. That is what we are doing in the short term, but school is the answer in the long term.

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Marielle Lahti (MP)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Johan Forssell.

We are members of something called the Energy Charter Treaty. It is actually used by large corporations to sue states that are trying to achieve climate goals. It is very unfortunate. Several member states in the EU have therefore decided to begin withdrawing from that agreement.

I wonder what the Minister has done so that Sweden can make a coordinated exit from the energy charter treaty. If he has not done anything, I wonder what the Minister intends to do so that Sweden can withdraw from the treaty.

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Statsrådet Johan Forssell (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Marielle Lahti, for the question!

If the question is what we are doing to withdraw, the answer is that there is no such decision. If the question, on the other hand, is how we use our international collaborations to ensure good development in the world, the answer is that we always follow up on them.

We are in the eighth month, and we are looking closely at how we should act regarding our international collaborations. Sometimes it becomes less, but sometimes also more. There is great untapped potential in several of the international parts. It is a work that is still ongoing.

Just this type of energy issue is prioritized by the government, linked to the environmental and climate challenges. But we have not taken such a decision as is implied in the question.

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Serkan Köse (S)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Employment Johan Pehrson.

Arbetsförmedlingen is a state agency which, among other things, has the task of improving the functioning of the labor market, for example by matching those seeking jobs with those seeking labor, prioritizing those who are far from the labor market, as well as contributing to increasing employment in the long term. Arbetsförmedlingen shall also contribute to the supply of skills and strengthen its local presence.

There is, therefore, an enormous expectation on Arbetsförmedlingen. In order to succeed with this, it is required that one has sufficient resources. I therefore become a little worried when I take part of Arbetsförmedlingen's internal report where it is stated that the agency is to save 100 million this year and 700 million next year. This is an effect of, among other things, the budget cuts that the Riksdag has decided on previously - 2019, 2021 and 2023. It will affect the agency's operations negatively.

What does the government intend to do so that Arbetsförmedlingen has sufficient resources to manage its operations?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! It is very important that we try to match better on the labor market. There are enormous HR departments, personnel departments, in Sweden's companies that work with finding new employees. We have the entire transition package, where the parties ensure that there are different security councils that help people to transition in cases where they become unemployed. And then we have Arbetsförmedlingen which makes important efforts, not least for those who are far from the labor market.

We are working to ensure that it is an effective policy. I do not remember if it is 69, 79 or 89 billion across the entire expenditure area that we use for the collective labor market policy. But a large part of it goes to helping people find new jobs.

Arbetsförmedlingen has long known that it needs to streamline its operations. It has a good bit over 7 billion of the taxpayers' money to use to fulfill its important task. And it will manage that.

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Lars Wistedt (SD)

Madam Speaker! I would like to address Minister Bohlin.

We Sweden Democrats look forward to continued good and close cooperation to build up the new strong total defense. But - there is always a but - during the last half year we have seen a number of examples, ranging from procurements to reports and investigations, where the total defense perspective has not been taken into account.

In this uncertain global situation, the country and the population are exposed to great risks when these analyses are not carried out. This has been consistent across several different agencies and in operations under them. This concerns Gotlandstrafiken, procurement of important infrastructure, and so on.

How does the Minister view the introduction of guidelines in the regulatory letters to the authorities to always consider the total defense perspective when carrying out their activities, in a manner roughly equivalent to what has been done with environmental issues? Has the Minister, and for that matter also the government, already taken initiatives in that direction?

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Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Lars Wistedt, for an important question!

I want to start by answering broadly, because it is difficult to go into individual examples. Since October 1, 2022, we have had a structural reform for the entire civil defense at the national level. About sixty preparedness agencies are divided into ten different sectors. All those agencies have a very clear mandate to work with preparedness and civil defense. It is assumed that all activities linked to Sweden's civil defense are considered in those agencies' work.

If we perceive that in any individual instance it does not occur in the way we expect, we shall follow up on it with force.

Question time was hereby concluded.

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