Question Time

ANDRE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions will be answered today by Minister Andreas Carlson, Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson, Minister Lotta Edholm and Minister Jessika Roswall.

Minister Andreas Carlson answers both general political 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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Denis Begic (S)

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

Housing construction is falling sharply. The government has so far phased out a number of important investigations, including those on social dumping, residential segregation, and a state-owned real estate company. It has phased out investment support for the construction of rental apartments with lower rent levels and support for energy efficiency in connection with the renovation of multi-family buildings. It rejects a Social Democratic proposal for a national plan for housing supply. It rejects proposals to let public housing operate without the bureaucratic law on public procurement and more.

The Minister has repeatedly spoken about structural barriers in the housing sector. Can we find out what these so-called structural barriers are? How does the government intend to remove these barriers, and how many new homes will be built?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Denis Begic, for an important question! There are structural barriers in the Swedish housing market. I believe more than those of us in this chamber today can state that. There are high thresholds to enter the housing market. There are long lead times that need to be shortened. There are complicated regulations, and there is a lack of available land to build on.

To solve the very challenging situation on the housing market - which has existed for a long time - one or two measures are not enough, but many measures are required that need to be implemented quickly. It is clear that Sweden would have been in a significantly better position if more of the reforms that are needed had been in place when we now also have such a tough and challenging economic situation, which many households, not least, feel in their everyday lives. But the government is working at a very high pace to develop the reforms to achieve a better functioning housing market that have been pointed out in the first budget that we have placed on the Riksdag's table.

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Denis Begic (S)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister for Housing, for the answer! I note that the Minister continues to answer these questions in principle. No concrete proposals are being presented. It is regrettable, as the housing market is struggling right now. Reforms are needed, and support is needed so that housing construction can continue.

We Social Democrats have stated what we want to do. My question is: What does the government want to do to ensure that this succeeds?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! The Social Democrats are honored that people want to get things done. One had eight years to actually do things as well, and now Denis Begic expects this government to do more in eight months than the previous government did in eight years.

We are working at a high pace. We have already tasked the county administrative boards to inventory needs and collaborate with the municipalities to get productivity started, not least in the housing segment, and we will return with a number of reforms. I look forward to doing that. Thank you for the question!

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Patrick Reslow (SD)

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

PIRLS' latest measurement shows that the reading proficiency of fourth-graders in Sweden has worsened. Furthermore, the proportion of students placing at a low level or below low level has increased since the last survey in 2016.

I think it is welcome that the Minister for Education takes the literacy risk seriously and that we, with united forces, can roll back the wave of digitalization that prevails when it comes to the education of small children and which has been launched in conflict with science and proven experience. We Sverigedemokrater praise above all the use of paper and pen at the younger ages. In the curriculum for Swedish, we can, however, see that in grades 1-3 today, requirements are set for the use of digital tools in parallel with handwriting.

My question is therefore: Does the government intend to remove requirements for the use of digital tools from the curriculum for grades 1-3?

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Patrick Reslow, for the question! This is an incredibly urgent issue. We have a literacy crisis in Sweden, and the children who perform worst in reading are those who come from the most socioeconomically difficult conditions. Therefore, the government is now also making a major investment in textbooks with more than half a billion every year so that children and students will receive real books instead of sometimes only having stencils and other things.

It is also true that digitalization has likely had a negative effect on reading skills. Most evidence suggests that one learns to read better with the help of books than with the help of screens, and one learns to write better when writing by hand. That is also important for reading skills. I do not dare to say exactly what we will do, however, but we have sent out the digitalization strategy for consultation. We have now received the consultation responses back, and we will compile them first. Then I ask to be allowed to return to this issue.

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Patrick Reslow (SD)

Madam Speaker! I must thank the Minister for the answer. We are in complete agreement regarding the description of the problem and the view on digital tools. I might have hoped to receive a decision that we would remove the digital tools from the curriculum for grades 1-3, but we must continue to work on that issue. I would, however, like to ask the Minister: When can we expect a new curriculum for grades 1-3?

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Madam Speaker! I do not dare to state exactly in the chamber today when this can occur. But I want to say that the government has now decided that we will not proceed with the digitalization of the national tests in grade 3, and that is because we do not want to force through an unnecessarily rapid digitalization for the small children. This will, therefore, occur in the near future.

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Linda W Snecker (V)

Madam Speaker! Trafikverket's introduction of a new train planning system shows with brutal clarity how poorly Sweden's railways are situated. Now, the large industries are warning through a letter to the Minister for Infrastructure that their freight transports will not function during the summer, and they are requesting a pause in track maintenance so that the freight transports will function at all.

Green steel, the climate transition, and the holiday trip are in danger because the government either does not take Trafikverket's problems seriously or refuses to build more railway, which is something that passengers, regions, municipalities, entrepreneurs, and heavy industry are demanding. The Minister for Infrastructure is responsible for how freight and passenger traffic shall function this summer.

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Linda W Snecker, for an important question. Of course, "to go like the train" should not be an expression for arriving late, but for punctuality. One must be able to rely on the train and on the fact that the capacity and the times that passengers and transport buyers need also exist.

The situation characterizing the Swedish railway now is not acceptable. Both passengers and transport buyers must be able to rely on that they will arrive on time and that deliveries can be made according to agreement. It is a fundamental prerequisite.

I expect Trafikverket to continue working as hard as they can to resolve the situation. I have committed myself to ensuring that they allocate resources and hire staff. They have entered a crisis mode to resolve the situation so that the train companies do not receive their schedules in the new system with such short notice. This must be changed, and Trafikverket is working on it.

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Linda W Snecker (V)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister for Infrastructure, for your answer! I am not satisfied. It is obvious that the government is not taking the situation as seriously as is required. The Minister for Infrastructure must answer the heavy industry's meeting request and explain how freight traffic will function this summer. A freight train from SSAB corresponds to 2,000 trucks - trucks that I do not want to traffic on the roads of Summer Sweden.

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Of course, I shall respond to the property companies' request. I am here to answer the members' questions, Madam Speaker, but I can state that we are inviting these actors and a few others to a meeting at the department on June 19. I believe that invitation was sent out this morning.

We take the situation very seriously. We have a close dialogue daily with Trafikverket to follow up that they are doing everything they can to rectify the situation. It is not acceptable.

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Rickard Nordin (C)

Madam Speaker! We have had a dry spring, and we are heading towards a dry summer, as the forecasts suggest. We see a risk of very low water levels. One way to slow down the water in the landscape is to use dams, for example. Many communities are built around the old mill dam. The mill has in turn perhaps become a forge hammer, and the forge hammer has become a hydroelectric power plant. In some cases, only the dam remains. The problem is that the dams risk being demolished, with quite large consequences. It is about the landscape, as we see in Bergby in Gävleborg, about the cultural environment, as around Järleån in Nora, or, as in Bräkneån, about mass death of mussels.

Then it is welcome that one, as the Tidö Agreement stipulates, pauses the environmental assessments. The problem is that the only assignments the government has given concern electricity supply - not landscape, biodiversity, water supply or cultural environment. Why does the government choose to only look at the electricity supply, Andreas Carlson?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Rickard Nordin, for a very pertinent question! I share the view on the problem, and that is also why this has been identified as a priority in the Tidö Agreement. The Tidö Agreement is comprehensive. I am very proud of the platform that this government works from, with our coalition partners. We will return with different steps in the work. I also refer to the minister responsible for the preparation of these matters. The work is ongoing.

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Rickard Nordin (C)

Madam Speaker! The break is good; we are in complete agreement on that. The problem is that the assignments you have given only concern national electricity supply. It is not about the local electricity supply. It is not about biodiversity and what happens when dams are torn out, or about the local landscape, where we see bridges and swimming spots disappear and it becomes small streams instead of large bodies of water. It is not about cultural environments. This is the fundamental problem.

Why does the government not want to do anything about this during the short time allocated for the break?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Not having given a mandate should generally not every time be interpreted as an expression of will in one direction or the other. As I said, this is a prioritized issue – it is evident from the Tidö Agreement. That all of Sweden should function is a priority for the government. It is about biological diversity, about open landscapes and about good living environments in the countryside. Therefore, we will have to return to this issue.

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Camilla Hansén (MP)

Madam Speaker! During the spring, we have seen the consequences of the government leaving the municipalities in the lurch in an economic crisis caused by world events. It is about inflation, which began to rise as early as during the pandemic and has shot up in connection with the war in Ukraine. It is about the consequences of Putin's energy war against Europe, where energy prices are skyrocketing.

In the autumn, Sveriges kommuner och regioner reported that they needed 20 billion to be able to maintain the level of welfare, and the government gave them a pittance. Miljöpartiet was the only party that met the needs.

In connection with the spring budget, what was asked for most of all were clear messages for next year, as it was well understood that no support would come from the government. Miljöpartiet were clear again.

Now we see that teachers are being laid off and classes are being merged. The municipalities are left in the lurch and do not receive any notification. Why, is my question to the Minister for Education.

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Madam Speaker! Just as Camilla Hansén says, we are currently living in an inflation economy influenced by factors that we often cannot influence ourselves, such as the war in Ukraine, the pandemic, and so on. We live in a very restless world. We here in this chamber - Members of Parliament and the government - but also municipalities and regions have a shared responsibility to do our best to safeguard the welfare in Sweden. That naturally includes the school as an important part.

We will continue the investments in schools going forward and also in the autumn budget. But I obviously cannot say anything here and now about the content of it. I believe that Camilla Hansén also understands that.

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Camilla Hansén (MP)

Madam Speaker! No, I actually do not understand that. The municipalities need a decision now. It is now that teachers are being laid off. Teachers, a rather patient profession, are taking to the streets and demonstrating. They do so, of course, for their own sake, but also for the sake of Sweden's students. This is something that truly worsens the conditions for those who already have the worst conditions. We are told that student assistants are being laid off – those who are supposed to provide support to those who need it most. Why is the government not prepared to share the financial burden with the municipalities?

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Madam Speaker! That is exactly what the government is doing. We have made historical investments in schools, but we also naturally expect the municipalities to do what they can to avoid making savings in schools. There are very large differences when it comes to how much money the municipalities invest in their schools. The one who invests the most in schools invests almost twice as much as the one who invests the least. This is an issue that the government intends to return to.

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Josefin Malmqvist (M)

Madam Speaker! For far too long, the government has turned a blind eye to the unfair grading and the "joy grades" we see in Sweden today. Ultimately, it is the students who have fought hard with diligence and knowledge to receive a fair grade and be able to apply for the education they desire in the future who are affected.

My question therefore goes to the Minister for Education. When can we expect measures from the government to put a stop to the unfair "joy grades" in Sweden?

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the question! The grading must be fair, and it is not in Sweden. There are students who receive far too high grades in relation to what they have performed. Approximately 40 percent of the ninth graders receive a higher grade in mathematics than what corresponds to what they have performed on national tests. At the same time, educational institutions flag that mathematics skills are simply far too poor among Swedish students.

We will now, in the near future, within a few weeks or so, appoint an inquiry tasked with looking at how grades can be more clearly linked to the results of the national tests. I believe that is the most important way to proceed when it comes to this.

Then I think we should all stop saying "joy grades" and instead say "fraud grades", because that is what they are.

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Josefin Malmqvist (M)

Madam Speaker! It is indeed cheating. I completely agree with the Minister on this.

The National Audit Office recently issued a report on this, and the School Inspectorate has also recently audited the fraudulent grades - the difference we see between the results on the national tests and the final grade. It is therefore welcome that further measures can be taken.

Is there any particular country that the Minister wants to be inspired by in the work to reform the grading in Sweden and ensure that we can achieve better quality in the final grades?

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Madam Speaker! I actually do not dare to say that today. I believe that this investigation will receive a fairly open mandate and look at different paths. Investigations have also been carried out by previous governments that can be utilized, where they have tried to provide a picture of what different possible paths exist in this issue. But I really look forward to appointing this investigation.

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Louise Eklund (L)

Madam Speaker! Between Denmark and Germany, a new infrastructure is being built right now that will completely change our travel and export opportunities in northern Europe. It will be completed in five or six years. The expectations for this connection are enormous. This applies in particular from Swedish business, which highlights it as completely decisive for the Swedish export industry.

What is also said is that if Sweden is to be able to take advantage of the opportunities with an expanded infrastructure between Germany and Denmark, we need to build away the bottleneck that the border between Sweden and Denmark currently is. It is quite obvious that the infrastructure that exists today, that is, the Öresund Bridge, will not be sufficient for either passenger trains or for freight traffic in the future. This is also said by SJ, which wants to double its traffic from Gothenburg and Stockholm to the continent. SJ says that it is very important to build an additional connection between Sweden and Denmark.

My question to the Minister for Infrastructure is: How do you ensure in the investigation currently being conducted that it is the national benefits of a fixed connection between Sweden and Denmark that are in focus?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank Louise Eklund for the question. It is an important question. The opening of the Fehmarn Bält link in 2029 will affect freight transport flows and passenger transport flows in a very clear way. That was also why Trafikverket, in its consultation response regarding the national plan, included a couple of measures on the Swedish side that would increase capacity over the Öresund Bridge in the short term. This would have meant a significant reinforcement of the capacity of the current link. This was not included in the previous government's national plan. That is why the assignment that Trafikverket has now received regarding reinforcements in Skåne also involves looking at exactly what effects the opening of the Fehmarn Bält link will have and what needs to be done. I look forward to taking part in this investigation assignment.

When it comes to additional connections, this is also included in Trafikverket's mandate within the current national plan, and I look forward to receiving this investigation mandate from Trafikverket ahead of the work with the next plan.

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Louise Eklund (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the answer, and I also look forward to following this work.

I can only emphasize what Swedish business - industries such as the forest industry - says: That building away the bottlenecks between Sweden and Denmark is absolutely necessary. This applies in particular to the emerging green industry in the north, which needs an infrastructure in the south if it is to be able to export its green products.

The infrastructure between Sweden and Denmark is therefore not a local or even a regional issue, but it is a national infrastructure issue. Therefore, I want to once again emphasize the need to highlight the national benefits of a reinforced infrastructure across the Öresund.

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! This is something that has an impact on all of Sweden so that all of Sweden can function. Work commuting and freight traffic are also identified as priorities for the government.

I want to return to the reinforcements that were possible in the previous national plan but which, for some reason, were not included. It is something that Trafikverket now has to look at again within the framework of its mandate. And we will return when it comes to the work of developing a national plan.

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Monica Haider (S)

Madam Speaker! I would like to direct my question to Minister Jessika Roswall.

The Social Democratic government received an exemption from the EU to be able to return the bottleneck revenues to households during the energy crisis. This exemption, however, expires at the turn of the year, even though the need risks being the same or even greater this coming winter. The crisis is not over. A prolonged period of cold could come to plunder millions of household budgets during the winter.

The sitting government has not acted to retain the exemption, and in the European Commission's proposal for a new electricity market design, the possibility of using funds to protect people against sky-high energy costs in times of crisis is missing.

The Social Democrats in the European Parliament have acted so that the bottleneck revenues can continue to be used for financial support in times of crisis.

My question is therefore: Does the Minister of State consider this to be a reasonable handling from Sweden as the chairing country in such an important issue for households and companies?

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Statsrådet Jessika Roswall (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Monica Haider for the question.

The Swedish presidency has had a massive agenda, as I have said earlier in this chamber, with 350 files to negotiate during this half-year. We have focused a lot on the green transition and energy issues. And one of the issues that has been handled in this context is the electricity market design file, which Monica Haider is asking about.

In most issues, there are many different opinions to take into account. I can guarantee the Chamber and the Swedish Riksdag that we have worked hard to try to establish a general direction, even when it concerns this directive. But we are not finished. We have reached a conclusion on many issues but not with this one, and the work is ongoing.

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Anna-Lena Blomkvist (SD)

Madam Speaker! In a survey among Sylf's members, a quarter answered that they have at some point been subjected to threats in the workplace. Furthermore, 17 percent answered that it has happened in the last year, which can be compared with 12 percent in the medical profession as a whole, according to a survey from Läkarförbundet last year. In Sylf's new survey, it therefore seems that doctors early in their careers are extra vulnerable.

Our hospitals are a place where both staff and patients should feel safe. Sverigedemokraterna argues that we must be able to guarantee the safety of the staff who every day save lives in their work.

The Sweden Democrats have long championed the issue and believe that special security-classified care areas should be introduced, where risk patients and aggressive visitors can be quickly separated. We believe that if staff, patients, or relatives are subjected to violence and aggression, this must be met with full force. This is important to simultaneously enable important care even for criminal and aggressive patients.

How does the Minister and the Government intend to work to increase the safety for our employed hospital staff?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank Member Anna-Lena Blomkvist for the question.

This is a very everyday issue for many employees in health and medical care. But it has very different faces. It can be, just as the member highlights, a patient or a relative who, with intent and will, actually threatens an employee. It can also be part of a person's illness and health condition that they have an outward-acting behavior. These two things need to be addressed in different ways.

The government has worked on establishing legislation regarding how to respond to those who threaten blue-light personnel and other healthcare personnel, but also on ensuring that one has methods that provide support and help to staff in these difficult situations with patients who have a behavior that can affect the staff. These are very advanced issues that require both clear leadership that ensures one stands behind its staff and that work environment issues in general are high on the agenda, and that is the case for this government.

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Anders Ådahl (C)

Madam Speaker! I direct my question to Minister for Education Lotta Edholm.

There are several examples of grossly criminal violent offenders working in our preschools and schools. We in Centerpartiet absolutely cannot accept that children should have that in their school life.

There is currently no possibility to request register extracts on a regular basis when so deemed justified. And it is not possible today to know whether there are criminals in the school environment.

To quickly deal with this, the Center Party recently proposed a so-called committee initiative on expanded opportunities for register checks in schools. This was, however, voted down in the committee by the government parties and the Sweden Democrats. They did not even want to deliberate on the issue. Instead, it is referred to that the government is working on the matter. If this is true, I wonder when we will see measures from the government so that the school becomes a safe environment for our children.

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Madam Speaker! It is a very difficult and pressing question that Anders Ådahl raises. What do we do about the criminals who actually are in the schools?

From the beginning, this question was raised through a mapping conducted by Sydsvenska Dagbladet. On that occasion, I said that the government will review the possibilities of introducing more crime categories. I also believe it is important to see if it is possible to perform repeated checks.

The work is already underway in the Government Offices. But I think it is good that the Center Party also raises the issue, as it is very important for both students and employees in the school. One should know that one does not have grossly criminal individuals as colleagues.

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Daniel Helldén (MP)

Madam Speaker! The railway is in a deep crisis. It is not possible to book tickets. The trains are constantly delayed. Trains are cancelled, and the railway is shut down during the summer. Swedes are losing all confidence in the railway. The media writes about SJ as aviation's best friend. The business community is crying out for help because they cannot get the freight through. They see major problems with the deliveries on the railway. The trucks now look like they will be the replacement.

This is deeply concerning in a time of climate crisis. The Transport Administration cannot get the railway in order, and it is getting worse all the time. My question to the Minister for Infrastructure is: When does the Minister intend to act so that the railway gets in order, instead of just talking and talking about that he will talk?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Daniel Helldén, for the question! The answer is that during the same week I took office as Minister for Infrastructure, I asked Trafikverket for the first time if additional funds, any regulatory simplification, or any government decision were needed to facilitate the implementation of the new MPK system. The answer I received then was no. Since then, we have followed this on a weekly basis, and now daily.

It is not an acceptable situation on the Swedish railway. The railway is extremely important, not least for freight transport but also for passenger transport, not least for commuting to work. The railway is an important part of our country's history and a significant part of the future, especially considering the new investments taking place in new, green technology, where more freight transport will be needed on the railway and road and in the air - in different ways.

All modes of transport are needed, and the situation on the railway needs to change. We are following this closely, and I will gladly follow up. Trafikverket has entered a crisis state, and this is part of our daily dialogue.

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David Josefsson (M)

Madam Speaker! After eight years of Social Democratic rule, Sweden today has an extensive housing shortage. There is a housing deficit in over 180 of the country's 290 municipalities. At the same time, housing construction is decreasing. According to Boverket's forecast, the number of dwellings with start notices decreased at the turn of the year from over 70,000 two years ago to approximately 33,000 this year. It is a forecast that is expected to be revised down further now at the half-year turn.

That housing construction was maintained at all during the past years can be explained by negative interest rates and the availability of cheap capital. That housing construction is receding is directly correlated with raised interest rates. At the same time, both housing construction and urban development are held back by rigid regulations and long planning processes. My question is therefore what measures the Minister for Housing intends to take to remove the structural problems in the housing market and address the housing shortage in Sweden.

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, David Josefsson, for an important question! Thank you also for the description of the reality as it was during the past parliamentary term! It is of course clear that we could have been better equipped in this very tough economic situation where housing construction is slowing down as a result of global factors, waning demand, high inflation, and high interest rates.

The structural obstacles that lie at the bottom of the problem and which have existed there in both booms and recessions for a long time are the same, and that is why the government is working hard to mitigate the effect in the short term for households, but also is tackling the structural obstacles that exist. It is about shortening lead times, simplifying construction processes, and making buildable land available in a situation where 180 of 290 municipalities in Sweden have a housing shortage. This is well-pointed out. We are working on it and have already presented several investigation assignments and reforms. And more will come - I promise you, Madam Speaker.

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Gustaf Lantz (S)

Madam Speaker! On October 24 last year, the Tidö Agreement was made public. One of the points concerns the obligation to report persons without residence permits. Now, all of Sweden's healthcare sector is asking whether this will be introduced within healthcare. Will healthcare be exempted? Jimmie Åkesson says a firm no. If one listens to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs, it sounds somewhat different.

Region Skåne protests, the Moderates, the Christian Democrats and the Liberals protest against the Tidö Agreement in this part. My questions to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs therefore are: Will healthcare employees be exempted? Does the Minister for Health and Social Affairs have any red lines in this part? Who ultimately has the right of interpretation when it comes to the Tidö Agreement – Åkesson or the Minister for Health and Social Affairs?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! The obligation of disclosure as set out in the Tidö Agreement is an issue that is being discussed in many places. It also appears from the Tidö Agreement that there may be mitigating circumstances where one needs to be exempted from the disclosure requirement, and healthcare is explicitly mentioned as such an example. It will be included in an investigation. Work is currently being done on the directives. The Ministry of Justice is responsible for this and will follow the Tidö Agreement, for we shall do so in all its parts.

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Thomas Morell (SD)

Madam Speaker! I would like to direct my question to Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson.

The railway has been raised in two previous questions here today, and that is because the railway is an urgent issue. The railway does not work. It is somewhat amusing that two others who have had responsibility for railway traffic during previous years have asked critical questions.

There are problems with MPK and also with lack of maintenance. There are constant signal errors. There are signal boxes from the 60s that break down and do not work. There is not enough staff to maintain this old facility. It creates great concerns for both passengers and freight transport.

It is important that we take measures. I want to ask the minister what the government intends to do to ensure safe railway traffic.

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Thomas Morell, for a very pressing question! It is exactly as Morell describes it. The maintenance debt is large - very large. The measures that need to be put in place are significant. It causes disruptions in the facility's capacity, and these are exacerbated given the problems with the implementation of the MPK system. It is for that reason that I invite a meeting on June 19 with representatives from the industry - construction contractors, train operators and maintenance contractors - and Trafikverket.

Trafikverket and the suppliers of the new planning system are working to improve the system's performance. Trafikverket is reviewing its internal working methods. They have called in more staff and moved into crisis mode. Trafikverket has an ongoing dialogue with the industry, with the ministry, and also with me. I expect nothing other than that they do everything they can to resolve the situation and gradually ensure that it quickly becomes significantly better than it is today. It is a matter that I am following very closely.

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Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)

Madam Speaker! As the Minister for Education said earlier, it is a tough situation in Swedish schools right now. The Minister for Education also said, a few minutes ago, that the situation is affected by factors that we cannot control. I will give some examples of how it actually looks.

Malmö received 37 million more from the state in 2020 than it received the year before. In 2021, it received 74 million kronor more from the state than it received the year before. In 2022, it received 60 million kronor more from the state than it received the year before. In 2023, it received 58 million less.

Åmål received 2 million kronor less this year than last year. Kungsbacka received 20 million kronor less from the state for the school than last year. Ulricehamn received 4 million kronor less from the state than last year. Sotenäs received 10 million kronor less from the state for the school than the year before.

These are cuts from the minister. The school is affected by factors that we cannot control, but some factors the Minister for Education can actually control. Still, she chooses not to do so. Why is the government cutting back on Swedish schools when the situation is at its toughest?

(Applause)

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for the question.

No, the government is not cutting the budget for schools. We are increasing the budget by 1.6 billion kronor this year. The part of the state budget that goes to schools right now is the largest in 30 years.

This is, however, obviously a shared responsibility. The Centre Party was a participating party when the school was municipalized 30 years ago, and we can now see the deficiencies that actually exist as a result of this decision. It did not get better, but rather it got worse.

The municipalities invest very differently in schools - the municipality that invests the most per pupil invests approximately twice as much as the municipality that invests the least. That is why we will soon return with directives on a national school funding norm so that the municipalities will not go under.

(Applause)

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Katarina Luhr (MP)

Madam Speaker! In February this year, the electricity price here in electricity area 3 was over 80 öre per kilowatt-hour. In electricity area 4, the price was over 1 krona. At the same time in February, Fossilfritt Sverige submitted a strategy for energy efficiency to the government. In the strategy, it was estimated that energy efficiency only in small houses, multi-family dwellings, and premises could together save 19 terawatt-hours, which is more than Ringhals produces in a year. It has also been calculated that a reduction in energy use of 10 percent could lower southern Sweden's energy price by 40 percent compared to last winter.

Energy efficiency allows us to use our resources more effectively and also protects us against higher electricity prices coming winter. I would therefore like to ask Minister Carlson, in his role as Minister for Housing, if there are any plans to increase the pace of energy efficiency work regarding existing apartment buildings, premises, and small houses. This will facilitate things for us and improve electricity use already this winter.

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Katarina Luhr, for an important question!

The amount of energy and electricity we need in Sweden to manage the green transition is significant. It is about creating new energy and new energy sources as well as expanding those we have, and doing this in as fast and efficient a way as possible.

What Katarina Luhr pointed out – to streamline energy use – is of paramount importance. That is why there is support in the budget for energy efficiency regarding small houses, amounting to 1 billion over a three-year period. This is necessary so that those who own a villa can reduce their energy needs and their costs as a result of the high electricity prices we have seen. This is an important part of ensuring that households can achieve a more manageable existence while energy efficiency is also rolled out in the small house sector.

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Jennie Wernäng (M)

Madam Speaker! I have a question for Minister Andreas Carlson.

I come from Öckerö municipality, which mostly consists of archipelago villas on ten islands, with a limited building area. The housing shortage is palpable, and the economic situation in Sweden is strained. The generational change of our housing is no longer happening naturally due to the housing shortage and because the costs are too high for the elderly to have the opportunity to move to a smaller residence.

Renting out your attefallshus or a part of the residence is a good way to get an extra income. It creates more housing and counteracts loneliness. The advantages are many. One plus is extra work opportunities for construction companies in connection with renovations.

My question to the Minister is: How is the government working to facilitate the rental of a part of a residence in order to increase the possibility of obtaining more housing in Sweden?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Jennie Wernäng raises an important issue. The secondary and sub-letting market is an important complement to the regular housing market that enables people to quickly find a home. Existing housing stock is used in a more sustainable way. It also becomes a welcome addition to the household budget, which I believe is particularly important in such a tough economic time as the one we are living in now.

It should be easy for private individuals to rent out, while at the same time the rental process must be secure for both the tenant and the landlord.

In the short term, the government sees that the existing housing stock can be utilized better. Therefore, we have referred a proposal on an increased standard deduction which makes it more attractive for private individuals to rent out all or parts of their residence. I do not rule out that there may be additional things that can be done to facilitate private rentals and utilize the existing stock even more effectively.

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Åsa Karlsson (S)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Andreas Carlson.

In northern Sweden, the green industries of the future are emerging. An important prerequisite for the green industrial development is that there is a well-functioning infrastructure throughout Sweden, not least in northern Sweden. Along the Norrland coast, furthermore, approximately 750,000 people live.

The Ostkustbanan is Sweden's longest bottleneck with 27 miles of single-track railway between Gävle and Härnösand, and today the line is overloaded. By building double tracks, the capacity would be quadrupled and travel times would be halved on the new Ostkustbanan.

The Prime Minister has promised both before and after the election that the double track shall be fully completed by 2035; it is only twelve years away. My question is therefore what the Minister intends to do so that the new Ostkustbanan will actually be completed by 2035.

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Åsa Karlsson, for the question!

The needs are significant, not only in the northern parts of the country but actually in all of Sweden. Given the new industrialization that we see in northern Sweden, the government has given Trafikverket a short assignment to see what can be done to accelerate the measures that are in the national plan and, together with relevant actors, see what opportunities exist for co-financing of projects in order to speed up the rollout of the infrastructure and enable the green transition and the new industrialization.

I believe there are approximately four months left on the assignment to Trafikverket, and I look forward to taking part in their work. We are also at the starting point for beginning the work on the national plan. We will soon have a directional assignment to Trafikverket and will then begin this work. Guiding for the government is, of course, freight traffic and work commuting. I look forward to returning to the question, Madam Speaker.

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Carita Boulwén (SD)

Madam Speaker! Fraud, forgery, and deception are a serious and growing problem that can have devastating consequences. It has now, for example, been noted that more and more fake educational certificates are being sold openly on social platforms online. Among other things, it was recently revealed that a nursing assistant had been in service for several weeks with a fake educational certificate in Eslöv municipality. The HR manager in the municipality states in a comment that they failed to obtain references.

During last year and this year, about sixty reports have been received regarding fake educational certificates sold via social media, but according to the police, the number of unreported cases is large. This is obviously incredibly serious and something that must not happen. If a person without education is to provide health and medical care to another person, it can generate life-threatening injuries and deaths.

The Sweden Democrats argue that patient safety must be ensured and that with a right-wing government, we need to strengthen the work in many areas. I know that the Minister for Health and Social Affairs cannot discuss individual cases, but I want to ask the Minister how she intends to work to counteract such occurrences and to ensure that patient safety is not compromised.

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank Member Carita Boulwén for the question.

Patient safety is truly a fundamental pillar. When one encounters health and medical care or care and nursing in other ways, one must know that the care received is reliable and safe. If a nursing assistant, which will become a protected professional title this summer, or someone with a licensed profession does not have the required knowledge, it constitutes a patient risk.

This issue does not lie with me, but it is the Minister for Education who is responsible for this. But in the dialogues I have with the regions, I intend to ensure that they do what they can to ensure that the employees have the knowledge required. We must always act against those who use false certificates, cheat the welfare system and expose people to great risk, so I will do my part of the work together with the Ministry of Education.

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Maria Stockhaus (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson.

Aviation is important for Swedish growth. Swedavia has invested in Arlanda and is opening new parts in the coming days, not least the long-awaited new security checkpoints which increase capacity. They are also opening new restaurants and shops. This makes the airport more attractive as a destination for various airlines.

Connect Sweden is working for more flight connections to Stockholm, which opens up new opportunities for Swedish companies and travelers to travel out into the world. How does the Minister for Infrastructure view the fact that Stockholm, which has been a major actor in Connect Sweden, has chosen to leave this cooperation?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Let me underline what Maria Stockhaus says about aviation being important for Sweden and Swedish business. I see that the future of aviation is bright, not least considering the rapid transition taking place in the aviation sector. We also see how important aviation is for the competitiveness of Swedish companies, not least considering the business establishments of an international character that we see in our country.

Of course, Arlanda's competitiveness for international flight routes is an important issue. Swedavia falls within Elisabeth Svantesson's area of responsibility, but obviously it is concerning that collaborations are being left. I envision more cooperation and collaboration regarding the different types of transport so that we can achieve a transport system that is as efficient and sustainable as possible.

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Arwin Sohrabi (S)

Madam Speaker! The Education Minister's party has said no to a more just school fee, no to removing segregated school queues, and no to limiting profits in welfare.

Exactly one year ago, the Liberals voted down our proposal to reform the school voucher system so that it does not overcompensate independent schools for costs they do not have. This was done together with, among others, the Moderates and the Sweden Democrats. This means that municipalities continue to be forced to overcompensate independent schools and that Swedish schooling is leaking enormous resources as a result of this action. In my home municipality, Malmö, this overcompensation costs almost 100 million kronor this year alone, which corresponds to approximately 130 teaching positions.

The government has so far done nothing to stop this waste. When will the government take the initiative to put a stop to the waste of tax money that occurs when independent schools are reimbursed for costs and responsibilities that they do not have?

(Applause)

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for an important question, and the answer is within a couple of weeks. At that time, the investigation into a national school fee norm will be appointed, and just as we have signaled, the question of financing of independent schools versus municipal schooling will also be reviewed. The investigation will address this large and important issue.

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Jörgen Grubb (SD)

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

The government intends to appoint an inquiry into mother tongue instruction in Swedish schools. The Sweden Democrats are, as is known, opponents of this extravagance that some students are granted access to because we believe that it does not lead to development in subjects other than the mother tongue itself.

Comparable countries in the Nordic region and Northern Europe have a different view on mother tongue instruction than Sweden. They see it more as a voluntary element where their equivalent to municipalities decide on it themselves, or they have it for a limited number of grade levels, or they have no subsidization at all.

Does the Minister intend to include analyses from our close and comparable surroundings in the directives for the upcoming investigation?

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for the question.

We have not yet begun the work on the directives for this investigation. But it is obviously important that mother tongue instruction maintains high quality and contributes to development in other subjects, not least because so many children and young people have a mother tongue other than Swedish. This will be an important starting point for the investigation.

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Heléne Björklund (S)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson.

The minister just said that the future of aviation is bright, and we agree on that. The S-government commissioned an investigation to ensure state presence throughout the country and also allocated resources for this. Now, the investigator Peter Norman has come forward with his proposals, including that the airport in Ronneby should no longer be part of the state mandate. But bringing in a civilian, outside operator at a military airfield involves a major security policy risk, I argue. It would be better to conduct a broader review where the total defense perspective is also taken into account.

Does the Minister share the investigator's view that Ronneby should be excluded from the state assignment?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank Heléne Björklund for the question.

The government has not taken a position on the investigator's proposals. The day after I received the investigation, it was sent out for consultation, and we have now just received the extensive consultation basis of nearly 200 consultation responses. We are now processing these at a high pace before the summer in order to be able to return in continued dialogue in the autumn, as it is important to process this quickly and strengthen the state's responsibility for airports. We are processing these proposals together with the Arlanda Investigation's proposals on strengthening Arlanda's competitiveness.

We have, therefore, not taken a position on individual proposals in the investigation. But during the preparation, I have met with representatives from Region Blekinge digitally, including the County Governor, to inform myself about the situation in this part of the country, and I have done the same regarding other parts of the country. I look forward to returning.

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Mikael Eskilandersson (SD)

Madam Speaker! High inflation, an uncertain economic situation and high interest rates mean that few new construction projects are being started. The construction sector trembles for what will happen when ongoing projects are completed.

The government parties and the Sweden Democrats are largely in agreement on what needs to be done. Processes need to be accelerated, type-approved houses introduced, and more land made available through changes to coastal protection and national interests. Additionally, capital needs to be made available so that more people can build and own their homes, for example through changed amortization requirements and starter loans.

My question to Andreas Carlson is: Will these requested and much-needed structural changes arrive as a help before the crisis is a fact?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Mikael Eskilandersson, for the question!

Eskilandersson listed several of the areas where we work at a high pace together in the coalition parties, which also have a majority in the Swedish Riksdag to implement the reforms that are required and which I believe there is great consensus on.

It is the case that some of this takes time. One would wish that some of this had been put in place in better times so that we would be better prepared for poorer economic times like those we are in now. At the same time, there are no shortcuts.

These structural reforms need to be implemented, and they need to be implemented quickly. Therefore, we are working at a high pace to develop them and, in parallel, to mitigate the effects for households, especially those with the very smallest margins. That is why we have strengthened and extended the housing allowance for families with children.

In the work, I have also invited the industry to a meeting that will be held at the department next week to hear even more about what on the list the industry and the actors see as most important to do quickly.

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Linus Sköld (S)

Madam Speaker! Grades determine young people's opportunities in life. Therefore, it is important that the grades are fair.

But as the grading system and the school market now interact, the reliability of grades is completely compromised. High grade point averages are a competitive advantage in the school market. Private school owners can in that way earn money from higher grades being awarded in their schools than what the students' knowledge actually justifies. It is serious. During the spring, the scandals and revelations have followed one another.

As we have heard earlier, the Minister for Education shall appoint an inquiry to produce proposals on how grades can be linked to the results of the national tests. But I have not heard the Minister for Education touch upon a single word regarding how the profit motive affects grade inflation.

My question to the Minister for Education is therefore whether she intends to give the investigation a clear mandate to specifically highlight how market mechanisms and the profit interest in the school system affect grading.

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Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Madam Speaker! Just as I said earlier here in the chamber, it is incredibly important that the grades are representative. They are obviously not to a sufficient extent in Sweden today.

Therefore, within the coming weeks, we will appoint an inquiry tasked with submitting proposals on how the results of national tests can be more clearly linked to the grades that are actually assigned.

When it comes to the free schools and the development there, it will be addressed in supplementary directives to the free school inquiry. These are two different issues. But I would like to emphasize that I believe Linus Sköld is largely correct. Free schools give higher grades than corresponding municipal schools do. This has already been investigated. I think what is important now is to try to reach a conclusion on what we should do about the matter.

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Markus Kallifatides (S)

Madam Speaker! I have a question for Housing Minister Andreas Carlson.

We know and have heard several times here that housing construction is now falling rapidly, also because the government at a high pace has phased out the investment support for the construction of rental apartments with lower rent levels. The entire real estate and construction sector is characterized by anxiety regarding the future.

The Minister has previously referred to discussions in the Committee on Civil Affairs, but we who sit in the Committee on Civil Affairs know that not so much discussion is taking place there. Our meetings are in fact exceptionally short.

We Social Democrats have, against that background, proposed a parliamentary housing commission to address the crisis situation through cross-bloc dialogue. My simple question to the Minister is why the Minister for Housing rejects the proposal for a housing commission.

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Markus Kallifatides, for the question!

The situation on the housing market is very tough. The economic situation in Sweden is worrying. It is possibly tempting as an opposition party to ask the government to invite [us] to this type of conversation. One then expects the government to do more in eight months than one could do oneself in eight years.

Now, the situation is that the government that has taken office has the support of a majority in Sweden's Riksdag. We are now putting all our focus on producing the reforms that are required. It is about shortening lead times, simplifying building regulations, making buildable land available, and ensuring that the Swedish housing market is upgraded by building away the structural obstacles.

There is no reason not to have conversations and dialogue about these proposals, but our focus is to produce the reforms that are required. We hope for great support in the Swedish Riksdag when we present them, and we will do so continuously during the mandate period at a high pace.

Question time was hereby concluded.

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