Question Time

ANDRE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions will be answered today by Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer, Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson, and Minister for Education Mats Persson.

Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer answers both general political questions as well as questions within his own area of responsibility.

A question must be of an overriding 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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Ardalan Shekarabi (S)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Justice, but I would first like to say: Many thanks for the cooperation regarding preventive coercive measures! I wish that we could cooperate more in Swedish politics in the fight against crime and that the government did not isolate its cooperation to a single party.

Madam Speaker! On the government's website, one sees a press release where it says: New targeted investment in the municipalities' work against gang crime. That sounds very good. It even sounds necessary given what is happening in our country with the shootings occurring in Swedish cities that frighten our people and that kill youths and citizens in our country.

Mr. Speaker, the amount is 80 million kronor. The government is therefore investing 650 million to change the rules for the plastic bag tax but is investing 80 million in the preventive work against gang crime next year in the country's municipalities.

I ask the Minister for Justice: Does the government intend to return with a supplementary budget following the criticism that has emerged regarding this lack of investment in this serious situation?

(Applause)

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Ardalan Shekarabi, for the extended hand regarding cooperation! It is excellent that all parties, except the Left Party, were part of the historical reform regarding the secret coercive measures that enter into force on October 1 and which have stood at the top of the police's wish list for ten years.

It is excellent that we can now deliver this, and there will be many more opportunities for broad cooperation. There will be proposals regarding visitation zones, anonymous witnesses, criminalization of participation in criminal gangs, and other things that will give more parties the chance to step forward and contribute in the future.

That is one of many initiatives in crime prevention work that the government is engaged in. If I am to highlight one outstanding initiative over time that will extend until 2028, as shown in the budget, it is this: Over time, there will be an extra 8 billion for staffing in the social services linked to the fact that we will finally get a new Social Services Act in place where voluntariness is replaced by a more demanding mandate. We ensure that the social services are staffed so that we can meet the challenges that new legislation is intended to address.

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Ardalan Shekarabi (S)

Madam Speaker! The situation is acute, Minister of Justice. Shots have been fired in Uppsala several days in a row during the past weeks. People are being killed on our streets. What we need to do now is to stop the new recruitment. But with 80 million kronor, we will not be able to implement the measures required to stop the recruitment of children and young people into the gangs.

Does the government intend to return with an amending budget following the criticism that has emerged regarding these 80 million for crime prevention work?

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! The best thing is if the Social Democrats support the government's budget. Let me list other things that will come already this year.

There will be 70 million already now regarding the preventive Social Services Act, 200 million already now regarding the staffing initiative in social services, 165 million already now for better working environment and working conditions for teachers in schools with socio-economic difficulties, 400 million for expanded parental support and almost 500 million so that all children placed according to LVU will also receive it.

All of this is included in this budget. You are welcome to support it! It will provide a boost for the important social preventive work against serious organized crime.

(Applause)

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Robert Stenkvist (SD)

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

The Swedish education system is based on the student's free opinions and independent thinking. To question a teacher's claims is not only a right but also what is actually expected of the students.

The Minister of Justice has recently stated that the government intends to make it easier for educational institutions to expel students - this based on a student questioning a teacher's analyses during the course Race and Whiteness in Sweden. The teacher chose to take sick leave to avoid being questioned, but the educational institution announced that there is no basis to expel the student.

Regardless of what unpleasant opinions are associated with a student, we are on very thin ice if we open up to shutting out students because their opinions are uncomfortable.

Does the Minister believe that arbitrary suspension of students because they exercise their freedom of speech is the right way to go in a country where we encourage freedom of speech and hold it in high regard?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you to the questioner for a very important question! I naturally want to avoid commenting on the individual case, but I can comment generally and say that this is a growing problem at our Swedish universities and colleges, that is to say that individual researchers, teachers, professors and lecturers are subjected to harassment and accusations in their actions.

Universities shall be an arena where the ceiling is high and where no, I repeat no, opinions are forbidden. All perceptions may meet and be debated in the academic seminar, but one must never cross the line where one harasses or threatens someone. In many cases, it concerns a teacher performing their professional duties. This applies regardless of whether the will for silence comes from someone at the far right or at the far left.

(Applause)

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Robert Stenkvist (SD)

Madam Speaker! Expelling those convicted of terrorism from universities is one thing. Expelling directly violent students is also one thing; it is even a police matter.

But to base legislation on reports from DN and make it possible to kick out students with inconvenient or even truly unpleasant ideas is a completely different matter. It is precisely such things that our media, including DN, are happy to accuse Viktor Orbán of.

I think that path is very dangerous to take, and I strongly advise against it.

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I would still like to say that if one looks at the developments in recent years, one sees that we have a situation where the legislation today is far too unclear. This means that individual educational institutions do not know what possibilities they have to exclude students or act against others who are active within higher education when they cross the line and do not express their opinion, but instead threaten or harass employees at the universities.

This has also been noted in a government investigation, and the government is now reviewing the issue of increasing the possibility of expelling students who do not behave properly but instead act in a way that threatens and harasses others.

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Vasiliki Tsouplaki (V)

Madam Speaker! During 2022, around 780,000 people participated in study circles. Closer to 9 million visitors attended one of the study associations' cultural events. In addition to the public libraries, the study associations are the only cultural actors present in all the country's municipalities. Residents in rural municipalities participate in study circles to a much higher degree than city dwellers.

Now the government has decided to cut back significantly on this important infrastructure, which for over a hundred years has given people an opportunity for education, social interaction, cultural experiences, and learning throughout life. Around one-third of today's state support will be gone before the next election.

Mats Persson said in an interview with SVT that one cannot give everything to everyone and that one must prioritize, and that is of course true. Yesterday, when we saw the budget, we could observe that the government has prioritized lowering the tax on snus over education and culture in smaller towns and in rural areas.

My question to the Minister for Education is: Did the government conduct any analysis of the consequences for the cultural life in rural areas and people's opportunities for education throughout the country before deciding to cut the state grants to the study associations, and if so, what did it conclude?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Politics is about prioritizing. Politics is about not promising everything to everyone without being able to prioritize in a tough economic time.

This government prioritizes education. Education is one of the most important parts as the government now places its budget bill on the Riksdag's table. We are expanding the folk high schools. The government is expanding komvux. The government is expanding the university colleges. The government is expanding the higher education with targeted investments in engineering programs.

It is large-scale education initiatives, and in that case, we also make a redistribution where we redistribute money from student unions to education. It is a real prioritization, it is an important prioritization, and it is something that builds Sweden stronger for the future.

Politics is about prioritizing. Politicians cannot promise everything to everyone.

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Vasiliki Tsouplaki (V)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for the answer, Minister!

"Expanding" I think is a euphemism when one hardly replaces the resources that were removed in the previous budget. I am still concerned that Mats Persson, as the responsible minister, has not familiarized himself with the consequences of his own budget proposal.

I am now wondering whether the risk is that this cost burden is shifted onto regions and municipalities, which already have a very tough task with cuts in welfare due to lack of adjustments. My follow-up question is therefore: If the study associations cannot maintain the educational mandate in smaller towns and in rural areas, who does the minister believe should step in and do it?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Study associations play a very large and important role in Swedish democracy and perform very important contributions. At the same time, no one in this chamber can turn a blind eye to the fact that there has been a lot of cheating and inaccuracies in recent years. This is nothing I am asserting, but this is something that the Swedish National Audit Office in a review has pointed out very clearly.

In this situation, it is a reasonable priority to prioritize education for as many as possible. That is the most important thing. Then one must prioritize down other things.

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Catarina Deremar (C)

Madam Speaker! Criticism did not wait long when the news arrived of the government's substantial cuts in the field of adult education. My question, therefore, is also directed to the Minister for Education.

If we are to have a country that holds together, it is based on us keeping the democratic conversation going. When we talk about lifelong learning, I and the Center Party believe that it is important that we do not set different educational journeys against each other.

I would like to ask the Minister for Education: In what way does the Minister for Education intend to compensate for the reduction in developing places where democratic dialogue can continue and develop, now that folkbildningen and study associations will disappear in several places in our country?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! The possibility of changing course in the middle of life and getting an education anew, the possibility of getting a second chance as a 19- or 20-year-old when one has not succeeded in upper secondary school – all those possibilities for a new chance at education are an important part of Swedish society and Swedish democracy.

The government's policy and the budget that is now on the Riksdag's table contain major investments in opportunities to change in the middle of life, get a second chance, and perhaps get to study for eligibility to upper secondary school at some folk high school around in our country, because we are injecting more money into these areas. By doing so, we strengthen democracy. By doing so, we strengthen the opportunity for education and make it possible for more people to find their place in society. It is an important investment for the education system but also for democracy.

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Catarina Deremar (C)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for the answer, Minister! I hope the Minister shares my view that the democratic dialogue must also be strengthened.

Popular education weaves together civil society, which in turn creates trust between people. It is a success factor for Sweden. Popular education shall be free and voluntary.

How does the minister ensure that the public education remains free and that we in politics maintain an arm's length distance from it?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! It is a very relevant and good question, which also shows a clear conflict of objectives. On one hand, we of course want the student unions to have a lot of freedom to decide for themselves over their activities. On the other hand, the taxpayers are also financing this. It is people who go to work early every morning and work eight to nine hours every day who are involved in paying for this. Then one must also be able to access fraud and inaccuracies in the system and have clear control instances that ensure that the money goes to what it is supposed to go to and does not end up in fraudsters' pockets or in extremist activities, as we have seen in several places, not least when it concerns ABF in Botkyrka. There is more to be done here.

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Amanda Lind (MP)

Madam Speaker! It is remarkable with a liberal Minister for Education who pits education against cultivation in this way, when we know how these important forms of education interact with each other and have done so historically. This is also no investment in the folk high schools, as the Minister claims. 100 million was allocated, that is true, but nearly 400 million was also withdrawn last year. Folk high school Sweden is not satisfied.

The government's death blow to adult education entails great consequences for all the people across the country who are affected and who participate in the activities of the study associations. It is the youth band that needs a rehearsal room. It is the retiree who gets their meaningful leisure time and community in the study circle. It is the person with a disability who stands far from the labor market and for whom the study associations contribute to preparation so that the person can get a job. Not least, adult education is important for integration. With these draconian cuts, Sweden becomes a poorer country.

My question to Education Minister Mats Persson is: In light of the major consequences for student unions, is the government prepared to roll back the cuts in order to safeguard culture, democracy, and education throughout our country?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Education is an important part of democratic society. We in Sweden should be proud of the tradition we have of having many arenas where culture is practiced, different types of leisure activities are pursued, or where one gets the opportunity to conduct democratic conversations in study circles and in various ways carry the democratic conversation forward. This naturally also includes having good opportunities for education.

The government presents this budget in a very tough economic time. In such a situation, politics is about prioritizing, and we prioritize education very highly. We are therefore making a redistribution from the activities of study associations to education that leads to real jobs.

We also do so in light of the fact that study associations have been characterized by problems with cheating and inaccuracies. We know that the money does not always go to what it is intended to be used for. I think it is a responsible approach to use the taxpayers' money in that way.

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Amanda Lind (MP)

Madam Speaker! We are aware in this chamber that problems have occurred within adult education. The previous S-led government also took initiatives, not least to appoint the large adult education inquiry, led by the Liberal Christer Nylander, to see how the conditions for the folk high schools can be improved. There has also been a major development work within adult education itself for several years, among other things following the views that came from the National Audit Office.

My question to the Minister for Education is why the government did not wait to make changes to the distribution of the grant until the folkbildningsutredningen had finished its work.

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank the questioner for the question.

There is a very large consensus in this chamber that education is important. But politics is about choosing and prioritizing. The Government prioritizes education very highly and is now expanding it with 20,000 places for everyone around Sweden who need to educate themselves to be able to take the shortage occupations that exist in society. It is an important prioritization, because if we do not do it, our society will become poorer. It is a prioritization to be proud of and a prioritization that will carry Sweden much better forward.

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Caroline Högström (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer.

In recent years, there has finally begun to be talk about men's violence against women in a broad sense. Several women testify to what they have been subjected to at home, in the place that should be the safest point.

But we still see that the support is not sufficient. Women have their protected housing cleared, both by authorities and in connection with visitation rights for the children. Women are forced to leave everything, while the perpetrators can almost continue to live their lives as normal, often with shamefully low sentences in their luggage, given the violation and the violence that usually lies behind.

Domestic violence also often has a breadth that can feel almost unimaginable if one has not personally been subjected to it or seen someone close to them be subjected to it. It is about control, isolation, and both physical and psychological, but also economic violence.

I know that the government is obsessed with the issue of a safer Sweden. Can the Minister for Justice describe some of the measures that the government plans to take to protect women to a greater extent?

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Caroline Högström, for raising an important issue in today's debate!

No children, no women and no girls shall be forced to limit their lives. Therefore, the government has taken a long series of initiatives to counter men's violence against women. This involves, for example, a review of the sentencing scales for violence and sexual offenses. And it involves reviewing the rules for parole and probation.

We have also tasked an investigator to review the rules for restraining orders, so that such tools can cover larger geographical areas than they do today. For example, violent men should be prohibited from staying in the same municipality as their former partner.

Last summer, we prepared a basis for proposals to strengthen the rental law protection for women who are victims of crime. And we have initiated the work on a new action program to counter and combat men's violence against women.

Overall, violence by men against women will continue to be an extraordinarily high-priority issue for this government.

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Caroline Högström (M)

Madam Speaker! Many thanks for the answer, Minister of Justice!

As the Minister of Justice knows, it is a matter of vital importance for many of these women. Therefore, I am very happy, not only because we have a Moderate Minister of Justice but someone who is actually also willing to do the work so that we can get a safer, greener and, above all, freer Sweden for all women.

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! I want to emphasize the importance of obtaining broad support in the chamber for these questions as well.

Last summer, when we presented our large, broad grip on criminal law, I noted with some surprise that we were accused of a lack of focus because we did not focus our criminal law toughening only on the admittedly serious gang crime. For me, it is not an expression of a lack of focus but rather an expression that we have the bandwidth to see other violence and other crimes, not least those committed against women. It must be valued, and it must characterize our criminal law and many other parts that can affect that situation.

(Applause)

In this speech, Fredrik Kärrholm (M) agreed.

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Torsten Elofsson (KD)

Madam Speaker! I have a question for Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer regarding entry bans.

Since some years back, we have had a law on access bans that applies to, among other things, shops. It can be stated that if it was bad before, it has now become worse, with extensive thefts in shops. Threats and violence also occur. Retail is suffering large losses because of this.

We can also observe that crime is creeping down in age. The law we now have does not cover young people under 15 years of age. They cannot be issued access bans.

The retailers have expressed some criticism regarding the current legislation and believe there is potential for improvement. They want it to be easier to obtain decisions on access bans and that the possibility of stopping persons—those who enter and cause disturbances and trouble—should increase. They also call for a uniform assessment.

My question to the Minister of Justice is whether a review or tightening of the legislation is being considered.

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Torsten Elofsson, for a very important question!

It is striking that the issues of legal certainty for entrepreneurs are listed as the most important individually. It is not just about the safety and security for the employees or the own property. It is also a crucial issue for growth and expansion. Thus, it also becomes a question of the economic growth in the country.

It is now very important to receive the testimonies from traders across the country. I have also met them when I have visited stores. There is no doubt that the application of this important prohibition does not reach all the way as it was intended.

I am prepared to conduct a review and also take part in identifying what needs the retailers themselves see regarding changing the regulatory framework so that it will, in a much better way than today, protect both employees and owners of the stores that are affected by thefts, threats, and violence.

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Torsten Elofsson (KD)

Madam Speaker! I have a follow-up question, which is actually on the same theme.

Since 2005, we have also had entry bans regarding sports facilities, especially football arenas. The idea was to address the violence in the stands. We can well state that we have not quite reached the end of that. There is still a lot of rowdiness and trouble, and large police resources are allocated to curb this.

Is it time to review the legislation, even regarding the ban on access?

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! The short meaning of the long speech is yes.

I had the pleasure in June of having a meeting about these issues with representatives from both Fotbollssverige and Idrottssverige in a broader sense, also in light of a number of violent incidents in football stands during the early summer.

We are reviewing several of the issues that were raised at that time. The entry ban is one part, but there are also other issues. One example is how one should be able to use footage from surveillance cameras in order to effectively be able to identify and shut down individual perpetrators of violence.

I intend to return to these questions later in the autumn.

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Martin Melin (L)

Madam Speaker! I also have a question for the Minister of Justice.

As we know, we have a shortage of police in the country. I do not want to blame this government for that. Previous governments, in plural, must take the responsibility for it.

Due to the security situation in Europe today, it is not only the defense but also civil defense that is being reinforced. There, the police have an important function. One can then ask why the police are not being reinforced to prepare for the increased readiness that may eventually come, given pandemics, refugee flows and so on. These are situations that will require quite large police resources.

Previously, we had the emergency police to resort to for such missions and situations, but it was disbanded at the end of the 90s. A special emergency police unit remained until 2012, but that too is gone. The emergency police can also be used in peacetime, for example, for traffic direction, surveillance missions, or simpler safety-creating missions.

My question to the Minister of Justice is: Is there any possibility of potentially reinstating the emergency police?

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Martin Melin, for an important question!

There is no doubt whatsoever that societal developments and societal problems place great pressure on the Swedish police. I want to emphasize first and foremost that the record investment in the justice system that this budget entails for the period 2024-2026, that is, increases the efforts for the justice system from 69 billion to a historic 90 billion. An important part of that is to secure the continued growth of the police. It is essential in order to be able to meet all the tasks that, ultimately, will also be the police's in the future.

With that said, we can only conclude that regarding preparedness during crises and other societal disruptions in peacetime and high alert in connection with the threat of war, and ultimately in war, there is still room to discuss to what extent other reinforcements are needed. Such work is ongoing in the Government Offices. I intend to return to those questions during the autumn.

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Martin Melin (L)

Madam Speaker! To save time, I will only say that I am satisfied with that answer.

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! I am very pleased that the members here, in particular Martin Melin, are satisfied with the answers. That is what I am pleased with.

(Applause)

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Sofia Amloh (S)

Madam Speaker! The Government has previously struck at the establishment opportunities of foreign-born women on the labor market by abolishing extra services and removing provisions in the Employment Service's regulatory letter.

Now the Minister for Employment is proceeding with the decommissioning of the measure within the job policy whose figures point in the best direction regarding women's participation, namely the introductory jobs. What is the government actually thinking when it comes to equality?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! Few things are more important in the country of Sweden than equal obligations and equal opportunities. This applies regardless of where you come from and regardless of when you, in that case, came to Sweden.

We are making a major investment to ensure that also foreign-born women get a chance at vocational adult education and vocational college education. It is an important investment.

We have presented establishment jobs that are more specifically aimed at, together with the parties, helping people to take their perhaps first steps into the more regular labor market - perhaps after many, many years in SFI and in various forms of internship or, for that matter, extra services. We focus on workplace-proximate interventions with high efficiency because we want as many people as possible in Sweden to get into work.

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Lars Larsson (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Pål Jonson.

The issues surrounding soldiers' personal equipment have been well-debated in various media during the past year. Unfortunately, we see that previous governments' savings and dangerous policies have left deep marks in the Swedish defense.

We Sweden Democrats cannot accept that conscripts run around in black garbage bags or that reserve officers stand soaked on the shooting range, and we know that the Minister for Defence shares our view on this matter. We fear that old processes, unclear regulations and various bottlenecks will delay the capability increase needed by 2030.

In the regulatory letter, a mandate regarding regulations and processes should be included. In Norway, they have managed to get rid of up to 60 percent of their old processes in a fairly short time. Therefore, my question is what initiatives the Council of State is prepared to take given what has been put forward.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Lars Larsson, for a very pressing question! I believe that many of us think that the information regarding limitations in personal equipment for those performing national service is completely unacceptable. It is also a view that I know the Armed Forces Headquarters shares with me. We have a close dialogue regarding this.

Now, exceptional measures linked to addressing this are required. It is very important because everyone who is subject to conscription will also be ambassadors for the Armed Forces. We want as many as possible of those who perform their military service to seek a path into the defense forces as a specialist officer, sailor, soldier, or officer.

The information I have received now is that the Armed Forces are taking measures, and it is high time. I have received information that things such as thermoses, backpacks, and rain suits are being fast-procured. It is absolutely necessary to get these things sorted out.

Then there are also other things, which Lars Larsson is involved in. They are about creating good conditions for the Armed Forces to grow. But these are questions linked to a broader issue than the one that was raised now.

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Lorena Delgado Varas (V)

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

I would like to say that society becomes poorer if we do not invest in education. Now, universities and colleges are being hit by cuts totaling 420 million kronor. Furthermore, various research grants have been reduced during the year, and student unions receive much smaller grants.

We often say that we want to be leaders in innovation—not just technical innovation—and that we want to meet the climate crisis. But are we really doing that through fewer teacher-led hours, fewer premises, poorer student health, less research, and less student democracy?

What does this government have against the academy and the students?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for the question.

It is precisely the opposite in reality and in the government's policy in relation to what the questioner has just described. The government is, therefore, expanding higher education. More money will be invested in that sector in the coming years than has been done previously.

For the first time in 15 years, there will be more teacher-led hours for those studying to become engineers, for example. We are making targeted investments in research linked to batteries, which are part of the green transition. We are expanding the number of places in the technical programs, for example, to civil engineer and a number of others.

The government has very high ambitions linked to education and research, and it is also noticeable in this budget because we are expanding the operations.

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Anders Ådahl (C)

Madam Speaker! I also want to turn to the Minister for Education, who of course notes that it is a matter of priorities when one is to land on a state budget. I therefore have a question about priorities.

The government is cutting the funding for adult education in Sweden significantly. For the folk high schools, it is about 400 million kronor over two years, and for the study associations, it is a reduction of over 1 billion kronor over the next three years.

For higher education, the government is making some good targeted interventions in, for example, civil engineering programs and the STEM area—Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. But in total, the government is still reducing the appropriations for higher education by around 420 million kronor. This is primarily due to two different types of savings measures which ultimately actually result in both less higher education in Sweden and poorer quality of higher education. Why is the government making that prioritization?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank the questioner.

It is important, I think, that we in the Riksdag describe reality and what the government does in a correct way. It is not the case that the government is cutting back on the folk high schools, but rather the government is injecting 100 million kronor. I noted that SVT's Rapport yesterday apologized and admitted that they had described this in an incorrect way.

The government is investing more money in higher education now and during the coming years than what has previously been in the budget. Just as Anders Ådahl describes it, it is about substantial investments in engineers and on the technical side, because the green transition in society requires it. This is an important prioritization that the government is making. We as politicians would gladly have promised everything to everyone, but the reality is that we must prioritize. This is so important for the green transition that it stands high on the government's agenda.

(Applause)

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Daniel Helldén (MP)

Madam Speaker! I address myself to Minister of Justice Strömmer.

Yesterday we saw the government's budget. It is very telling for the Tidö parties. One capitulates. One lets the carbon dioxide emissions increase significantly.

At the same time, we see how climate change is turning everything upside down, and unstable weather creates despair. It is either too dry, or our cities or towns such as Västerås and Åre are flooded. If the trains run, they derail. Properties are damaged, and the government does nothing.

Yes, it is something being done by the government. You are cutting the appropriations for climate adaptation now when we urgently must prevent damage. Does the Minister of State think that taking responsibility for Sweden's security means reducing the appropriations for climate adaptation?

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Daniel Helldén, for the extraordinarily important question!

No, I do not think so. That is why it is excellent to see the large funds that are at MSB under the heading Defence. There are the large funds for climate adaptation. They are unchanged and will be extraordinarily important moving forward, especially against the background of the great challenges and problems that exist with the climate, which Daniel Helldén is touching upon.

One must still say that it is somewhat exaggerated to say that the government is doing nothing. I can state that of the three largest climate budgets that have been submitted to the Riksdag, this government is responsible for two. In fact, Miljöpartiet has not been involved in or influenced any of these budgets. This, I think, is something to stand tall about.

If I also look at all the conclusions regarding reducing emissions and expanding the energy supply – all of which, among others, the National Audit Office has stated that previous governments with Miljöpartiet at the helm undermined the conditions for – I can state that the conditions for reaching the climate goals over time are extraordinarily much better with this budget and this political direction than with the one that Daniel Helldén and Miljöpartiet have previously participated in.

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Magnus Resare (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is directed to Minister of Defence Pål Jonson.

I have understood that the Minister for Defence recently participated in the donor conference for Ukraine down in Ramstein. As I understand it, the Swedish military support to Ukraine since the outbreak of the war now amounts to over 20 billion kronor. Could the Minister for Defence tell us what benefit the Swedish support to Ukraine provides? He can also gladly say something about how it affects the Swedish defense capability.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Magnus Resare for the question. Let me first say that in Ramstein there were over 50 countries engaged at a global level to support Ukraine. If Russia were to have a similar meeting, there would be three countries participating at most. That conveys strength. Sweden is part of a larger international context when it comes to supporting Ukraine, but we are also one of the world's ten largest donors to Ukraine.

Several things naturally concern the support for Ukraine, which will be important moving forward. Partly, it is about continuing the training efforts. Unfortunately, the Ukrainians have a considerable number of losses, and it remains important that we continue to train the Ukrainians. Partly, it is important to support the Ukrainians with different types of ammunition and air defense systems. It is therefore not helpful to send tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery systems if they do not have ammunition. It will be very important.

In conclusion, the government is working hard to ensure that Ukraine has the opportunity to purchase new defense materiel from the defense industry operating in Sweden and other parts of Europe. This will be very important in order to be able to supply the Ukrainian defense forces in the long term.

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Lili André (KD)

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

Research is absolutely crucial for generating new knowledge and for society's development and welfare, but also to be able to meet the challenges that we cannot yet imagine. Sweden is a strong research nation with world-leading researchers and companies, but unfortunately, we have fallen behind and lost position in an international comparison. In order for Sweden's competitiveness and innovation capacity to be maintained, long-term initiatives and investments are required. In order to raise the quality of the research, priorities and concentration are needed.

My question to Education Minister Mats Persson is: How can we create good conditions so that Sweden regains a top position as a research nation?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank the questioner for an excellent question. It is quite true that Sweden has lost ground in relation to other countries over the last 20 years.

We are a "small and smart country". We live on the fact that we can constantly develop new innovations, come up with the latest technology, and sell those products and services on a global market. There, naturally, the interaction and cooperation between individual companies and academia play a very important role. Academia itself also plays a very important role. Who could have known 20-30 years ago that batteries would be one of the hottest areas in the 2020s? Very few. But we should be glad that we have had researchers who have continued to develop new technology in this area all the time.

In order for us to move forward better, we need to invest more in excellent research. We need to invest in the best researchers. We need to ensure that we concentrate our resources where they do the most good.

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Camilla Mårtensen (L)

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

The green transition in the north is fantastic. It shows that there is no contradiction between climate transition and growth. At the same time, there is high unemployment in other parts of Sweden. I come from Skåne. In some parts of Malmö, every fourth person is dependent on benefits in the long term.

What measures is the government taking to get more people from Skåne to participate in the green transition in the north?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question. The most important thing we do is to invest in education. Regardless of where people live and how long they have been without work, they should have the opportunity to take the many jobs that are emerging.

The investments that are now being made in northern Sweden, broadly and in many ways, will require amounts of different competencies. Therefore, we are, as I have said before, investing heavily in vocational adult education and universities of applied sciences. We will also ensure that we soon have the establishment jobs in place so that people can take this step in and then also be able to take the jobs that exist.

Construction is now happening so much that it creaks, for example in Boden, where I was not so long ago. Municipalities feel concern - where is the well-educated staff? It is our responsibility in the government to ensure that people get into work and become employable with good vocational training. That requires that priorities are set in the labor market policy.

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Peter Hultqvist (S)

Madam Speaker! I would like to ask a question to the Minister of Defence in connection with the discussion on the ammunition needs in Ukraine.

It is a large number of European countries that are delivering ammunition to Ukraine. This has effects on the ammunition supply in their own stocks. It is necessary that we get an increased production, both to meet the own needs in respective nations and for Ukraine's part. In that case, the responsibility for the deliveries of ammunition must be shifted from the defense forces to the industry. This is not a simple process. Production lines must be established, factories must be created that allocate their production directly aimed at Ukraine, and the state must guarantee production.

What initiatives is the minister taking to ensure that this happens on both a European and national basis, so that the industry receives an increased responsibility in practice?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Peter Hultqvist for an important question. Just as I said in my previous contribution, the availability of ammunition and air defense systems is absolutely crucial for Ukraine to continue to have success on the battlefield.

The government is taking a number of measures. During the Swedish EU Presidency, we negotiated ASAP, a European initiative which, among other things, aims for the EU to be able to provide up to 1 million artillery shells over a year. That cooperation is moving forward. There is also an opportunity for defense companies to receive support from the EU to be able to invest where there are bottlenecks in production.

The government has also taken measures at home, including by giving the Defence Materiel Administration the opportunity to make long-term procurements in the artillery ammunition area and the ammunition area, so that the companies know that there will be a presence in Sweden for a long time to come. It is very important for our security of supply that we have ammunition production in Sweden and the Nordic countries - in peace, in crisis, and ultimately in war.

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Ulf Lindholm (SD)

Madam Speaker! Despite a historically high unemployment rate compared to other European countries, the skills shortage in Sweden is still great in many professions. It is a problem shared by many other countries, but even here, Sweden stands out in a negative sense.

One example is the Talent Shortage survey from Manpower Group, where 45,000 employers in 43 countries are questioned. 69 percent of those surveyed believe that they have difficulty finding employees with the right skills. Even in this survey, Sweden stands out. Here, 76 percent of employers state that they have difficulty finding employees with the right skills, even though the so-called employment rate is one of Europe's highest. One can see here that the previous government failed with its policy to meet the needs of the Swedish labor market.

My question to Minister for Employment Johan Pehrson is: What measures will the government take to address the skills shortage in the Swedish labor market?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for the question, Ulf Lindholm!

There is so much that needs to be done. We have a quite extensive education debt in the country. We have a paradox. There are many people who are still unemployed. We heard earlier that we would get Europe's lowest unemployment. We are now at the third highest in Europe, but with the addition that we have a high employment in Sweden. Many other governments, and not just the previous one, should be honored. There, you heard it!

We are now working very hard to focus on the Swedish language. For people who have been away from the labor market for a long time, one must ensure that they learn Swedish now. It is a matter of ensuring that one can combine the Swedish language with vocational training. That is what is in yrkesvux and various combinations in between. I have previously mentioned yrkeshögskolan. We have the establishment jobs.

In the end, it is necessary that Sweden also looks forward towards skilled migration. We are transitioning the labor migration policy that has now been in place in order to address the shadow society. In the long term, Sweden will also continue to need skilled migration. For the time being, we have many who need to get into work who currently stand outside, and there are jobs to apply for.

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Ulrika Liljeberg (C)

Madam Speaker! I want to address Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer. Lately, we have heard almost daily about 13-year-olds, 15-year-olds, teenagers and children who murder and are murdered.

Yesterday, an ESO report was released from the Expert Group for Studies in Public Economics. It is titled Tough Measures and Trust - an ESO report on release, aftercare, and recidivism for those sentenced to closed youth care. We must stop the new recruitment. But we in the Center Party believe it is equally important that the young people are perhaps, for the first time, readapted and rehabilitated to a normal everyday life.

We all see the government's strong commitment to preventing recruitment and for increased prosecution of young people. It is crucial in this situation. But can we expect the government to engage just as strongly for a successful transition to a normal life, for example in accordance with the recommendations found in the ESO report?

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Ulrika Liljeberg, for raising this extremely important issue!

The short answer to your question is yes. The members of this chamber and the citizens have the right to expect such commitment from the government, and they will get it.

I can point to the major reform in this area that we are now preparing, namely the transition to youth prison. An important reason for this is to move the most serious criminals out of the Swedish Prison and Probation Authority's management so that, among other things, Sis-hem and other parts of the more social side can focus on other youths.

It also involves changing the consequences. An important argument for that change is precisely what should happen after a served sentence. As the report points out, and as has also been confirmed by those who practice this, it has been all too poor.

The conditional release from a prison sentence will offer fantastic opportunities for requirements, care, treatment, and continued work training even when the sentence has been served. Let us continue that discussion together moving forward.

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Margareta Cederfelt (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister of Defence Pål Jonson. It concerns the Arctic.

We can see how the interest in the Arctic from a security policy perspective is increasing and how great powers such as Russia and China are increasing their presence.

In view of this, I wonder what measures the Minister for Defence is taking so that we as a nation located up north shall have guaranteed security in our immediate vicinity.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Margareta Cederfelt, for the question!

It is completely obvious that Russia has prioritized the Arctic. We see a Russia that has not impressed on the battlefield in Ukraine and is weakened on the ground combat side. But when it comes to the air forces and the naval forces, they are almost intact. They are important in the Arctic. Russia has worked on re-occupying a number of locations in the Arctic environment. It is something that we have to contend with.

We are now strengthening the military presence in northern Sweden. Fully in line with the Defence Committee, I consider that both the Baltic Sea area and the Nordkalotten will become important strategic areas when we become allies. It is about us re-establishing a regiment in Arvidsjaur. We are also strengthening what will now be called the Norrlandsbataljonen. We receive two of them.

We are also deepening the cooperation with both Finland and Norway up in the Arctic region. That cooperation will become even stronger when we become fully allied with Nato. Then we can also have a common defense planning.

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Larry Söder (KD)

Madam Speaker! I address my question to the Minister for Justice.

We Christian Democrats have for a long time worked for a change in Sweden where cousin marriage becomes prohibited. It is all too often associated with coercion to marry a cousin. It is a phenomenon that I believe does not belong in Sweden. Arranged marriages have strong elements of influence that we do not believe are healthy.

It is with pleasure that I can state that the government has appointed an inquiry into a ban on cousin marriage. On the other hand, there are basically no proposals in the inquiry proposal or in the debate regarding legal sanctions that have any effect. I believe, in fact, that it will be a rather toothless law if we do not have any legal sanctions at the foundation that ensure an effect is seen in what is done against the law.

I therefore ask if the Minister could consider also introducing a tangible legal sanction in connection with the ban on cousin marriages in Sweden.

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Larry Söder, for an important and interesting question!

It is entirely correct to begin with that cousin marriage has come to be a real freedom problem for many girls and young women in our country and also in other countries. It feels very urgent to take a reform step that increases the freedom and self-determination for young women in our country. But this discussion is also being held in other countries.

The question that Larry Söder raises is interesting. I have noted the comments from several sides. The natural approach is, of course, to take the family law route. Which conditions do we recognize in the legislation? But it is clear that one can envision arranging these arrangements in any case, but in other ways.

I would like to continue that discussion, preferably based on practical experience from both our country and other countries. So let's see if there is more to be done in this area.

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Lawen Redar (S)

Madam Speaker! Many colleagues in the Riksdag have today highlighted the government's proposal for substantial economic cuts towards student unions as well as their consequences for Sweden's cultural life, civil society, and for the individual person's educational journey.

Education Minister Mats Persson confirms here today that no impact assessment has been conducted and that the folkbildningsutredningen can be disregarded because the minister does not await its proposals before measures are taken.

I am curious about what value the Minister for Education places on the folk education inquiry, which is to be completed next year, as well as how he views the future of folk education in Sweden.

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! The Government has very great confidence in the investigation on folkbildning that is currently underway. It is very important to find a way forward and for us to jointly be able to find a model where we, on one hand, ensure that study associations have much freedom to design their own activities and on the other hand ensure the taxpayers' legitimate right to know that the money is used for the right things and that it does not end up in pockets where the money should not be.

I think this is important, and the investigation is very important. It is also important in light of the scandal we have been able to witness within ABF Botkyrka, which has gone so far that nine elected members chose to leave the Socialdemokraterna because of that scandal. It shows the importance of us getting to the bottom of this type of problem.

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Martin Westmont (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Justice, and it concerns largely the same subject that Larry Söder asked about just now, namely this fact that the government has commissioned an inquiry into a ban on cousin marriage. It is good given the complications that cousin marriage brings with it, for example when a woman wants to divorce and she so to speak shares a family with the person she wants to divorce from.

My question to the Minister of Justice is quite simply whether he is prepared to review the incest legislation in order to make it punishable to marry one's cousin.

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! As Martin Westmont noted, Larry Söder asked the same question a moment ago. I suppose I must repeat my answer.

Fundamentally, the natural way to approach a question of which relationships and forms of cohabitation the state should recognize is to take this route through family law. That is how it is regulated when it comes to marriage, cohabitation, and other matters.

The background to this specific reform measure is that there is a deeply known problem with coercion and lack of freedom. Marriage is used coercively and for the purpose of restricting the individual's—it is usually a young woman in question—right to decide for themselves over their own life.

I have noted the points. I welcome the measure but also see the question mark: Will this be sufficiently effective to address the underlying compulsion? I am prepared to continue the discussion, preferably on the basis of a slightly more substantial empirical foundation, with members in the chamber and in other contexts.

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Martina Johansson (C)

Madam Speaker! Children's rights need to be strengthened. In custody disputes, children risk being harmed because the focus easily falls on the parents instead of on the child's best interests. After a number of meetings I have had recently, I perceive that we are close to a majority in the Riksdag to specifically investigate children's right to their own counsel even in custody, residence, and access issues. My question to Gunnar Strömmer is therefore whether he is prepared to appoint such an investigation, i.e., regarding children's right to their own counsel in custody, residence, and access issues.

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Martina Johansson, for the question! Let me first express my admiration for the diligence in pursuing these issues that Martina Johansson and some other members here in the chamber devote themselves to. It is not strange in itself that they do so, for the issue is extraordinarily important.

Fundamentally, it is about the importance of children's interests being safeguarded in conflicts where the parents' own interests do not necessarily align with the child's interest. You know that we, so to speak, inherited an investigation that the previous government commissioned, which has submitted its report Safer homes for children. You also know that it has been out for consultation. The consultation period expired before the summer, and we are now analyzing it carefully.

Many of the issues raised here are addressed by the investigation, but not all. This is one of the issues that is not sufficiently illuminated. I do not intend to promise anything, but I also note that things are moving in the Riksdag. Let us continue the dialogue moving forward, and we will see where we land in the end.

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Gustaf Göthberg (M)

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

Half of all container traffic in Sweden passes through the port of Gothenburg, which is also Scandinavia's largest port. In Gothenburg, we have a large airport and a growing industry, but for a long time we have lacked defense capability and locally placed defense. Thus, the defense and the growth that the government currently seems to be working for is also immensely important, also from a national interest perspective.

In Gothenburg, we remember how it happened when Göran Persson pulled out and disbanded the regiment. The soldiers, the regiments, and the defense withdrew from many places in Sweden. With great confidence, we now see how the defense capability in Gothenburg and on the west coast is increasing.

Now Amf 4 is being equipped. I know that the Minister of Defence has been there. I will visit the soldiers myself next week. One also notices what a spirit of initiative they have.

My concrete question is: How is the Minister for Defence and the government working to continue to increase the defense capability in Western Sweden?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Gustaf Göthberg, for an important question!

The Älvsborg Amphibious Regiment is an important re-establishment of the Armed Forces on a more permanent basis. The Armed Forces is now growing in several ways on the west coast. There are weighty reasons for that. Among other things, it naturally concerns how important the Port of Gothenburg is for supplying not only Sweden but actually all of the Nordics. Great progress is being made there.

Alongside this, the port of Gothenburg is, I assess, also very important for host nation support, that is to say, so that we can receive help in the event of crisis and war. Above all, this is important when we become allies.

Last autumn, a decision was made on a mission of 200 million to Fortifikationsverket to strengthen the naval base located on Käringberget in connection with the Port of Gothenburg. Alongside this, the increased defense appropriations create conditions to make more targeted defense investments also in Gothenburg and the surrounding area.

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Serkan Köse (S)

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

Sweden today has an unemployment rate of 6.7 percent. That means we have over 330,000 people registered with Arbetsförmedlingen. Konjunkturinstitutet now warns that this figure could rise to 8.4 percent next year. Despite this, Johan Pehrson cuts Arbetsförmedlingen's budget by over 2 billion kronor and increases the administrative appropriation by only 200 million kronor, which is far from the 770 million kronor for next year that Arbetsförmedlingen requested.

In light of this, I would like to ask Johan Pehrson how the Minister justifies these cuts, especially when we know that unemployment will increase next year.

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Serkan Köse, for the question! Arbetsförmedlingen is indeed a central and important agency for helping people who fall into unemployment. However, it is not the only measure being taken. We also ensure that we have good transition support in place via the transition organizations. Furthermore, one can, in the middle of life, seek an opportunity to transition and find a new direction when it comes to one's professional work. I mentioned the establishment jobs earlier in this question period.

It is correct that we have high demands that Arbetsförmedlingen should work efficiently. We use the resources that today go to what is called "rusta och matcha" to instead invest heavily in vocational training in the form of yrkesvux and yrkeshögskola. We know that the major work is done here to provide the Swedish business sector and the Swedish public sector with skilled new employees. This is also a way for people to get into the jobs that exist if they are affected by unemployment.

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Jonas Andersson (SD)

Madam Speaker! I have a question for the Minister for Education. The focus in the debate surrounding study associations has for several years lain on serious problems. It has been about problems in the form of cheating, fraud, and incorrect use of taxpayers' money, and problems in the form of gang criminals in study association activities, such as at ABF's youth centers in Botkyrka. There have been problems in the form of clear Islamist connections, as with the study association Ibn Rushd.

In the audit report that the Swedish National Audit Office submitted in the autumn of 2022 regarding state grants to study associations, it was found that among 370 audited events, nearly half, 44 percent, lacked sufficient documentation to pay out money. This shows the problem very clearly.

The reasons for the failure have largely been laid during the Social Democrats' years in power. To lower the appropriation for student unions, as SD and the government are now doing in the state budget, while we act to take control over what the tax money actually goes to, is in my opinion responsible.

Now I come to my question: Can the Minister for Education describe why he sees this budget change for student unions as the right priority in today's situation?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! After this debate, it has probably not escaped anyone how the government argues in this issue. There are two backgrounds to why we are now redistributing money from study associations to education that leads to real jobs: battery technicians, chefs, and people who can work in healthcare. These are extremely important investments in a situation where the entire society is crying out for competent employees. It is, therefore, a reasonable prioritization.

This is also being done against the background of the massive fraud that we have seen within the student unions. It is not I who am presenting this, but it is something that the National Audit Office points out in its report.

The government is now shifting the policy with an increased focus on control. But we also want to emphasize that student unions are an important part of democracy and perform very important initiatives. That is precisely why it is so important that the money that taxpayers invest in this ends up in the right place and not the wrong one.

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Ida Drougge (M)

Madam Speaker! Sweden is a country with a high level of digitalization. But unfortunately, we are at the bottom of Europe when it comes to cybersecurity. Even international measurements show that we perform very poorly.

When it comes to understanding the seriousness and extent of this type of crime, it can be stated that the global costs of cybercrime exceed the global costs of the entire drug trade.

Many are the companies that are exploited and affected. They are here in Stockholm, for example within the Swedish financial market. But it also concerns many municipalities and authorities. This affects us all to some extent. I would therefore like to ask the Minister for Defence what the government is doing and what measures it is taking to strengthen cybersecurity.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Ida Drougge, for the question! The gap between digitalization and cybersecurity is called vulnerability. If one is very digital but has low cybersecurity, one is therefore more vulnerable. Over time, Sweden has actually fallen in a number of international measurements. This is very serious.

The government is taking a number of measures. First and foremost, we are reviewing the national cybersecurity center, among other things by giving the responsibility for the center to the Defence Radio Establishment. The Defence Radio Establishment is likely the authority that has the strongest competence in the cyber area. We also instruct this center to work closely with the business sector. Large parts of our society-critical activities now take place in the business sector. Therefore, a high level of cybersecurity must also prevail there.

Alongside this, we are making investments in research and education, including a targeted initiative on what is called Cybercampus, where cooperation regarding research in the cyber area is to be intensified, but also to create better cooperation between universities and other educational institutions in order to expand educational efforts in the field of cybersecurity and cyber education. One of the biggest challenges is a lack of competence.

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Åsa Westlund (S)

Madam Speaker! The Minister for Education has pointed out the importance of priorities several times today. When this government took office, it prioritized cutting the opportunity for education for over 20,000 people in Sweden through cuts to folk high schools, adult education (komvux), and universities of applied sciences.

In this budget, parts of these funds are being put back, but the fact remains. In 2024, thousands fewer people will be able to get a chance at education than under the Social Democratic government.

My question is, of course, to the Minister for Education: Why is it so important for the Minister for Education that this government prioritizes providing fewer opportunities to receive an education in Sweden?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! It is the opposite. The Government is expanding the opportunity to participate in education in Sweden. It is more people who will now have the opportunity to undergo an education.

Let me give an example. We have the Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education, which carries out incredible efforts together with Swedish companies to make it possible for people to train for shortage occupations. There, we now have around 50,000 places every year, which is very much. In the coming years, it will be expanded. We will have 7,000 more places in a few years, which is an increase of nearly 15 percent. It is an incredibly large investment we are making on this right now. Society is, in fact, screaming for competent labor.

This is a very important initiative to ensure that more people can get an education, to ensure that more people can get a job and to ensure that the skills gap can be closed - society is crying out for skills.

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Johnny Svedin (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Education Mats Persson. The Ministry of Education owns the upcoming bill on research and innovation. But the innovation issues also fall under the Ministry of Climate and Enterprise and the Committee on Enterprise.

How does the Minister for Education ensure that the upcoming research and innovation bill also promotes the business sector's conditions?

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Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank the questioner for an excellent question. I would say that historically there has been a conflict or at least an alleged division between, on one hand, the needs of companies and the business community and, on the other hand, how academia functions or society's need for basic research and not for applied research.

That difference has been described, but that is not how reality looks. One can look at the large Swedish companies and at the smaller Swedish companies. They are all inspired by the idea that Sweden should be far ahead in the technological front, because today they do not know what the technology of the future is.

Who, 20 years ago, could have guessed or believed that it would be the electric car that, so to speak, would win the race of technology? Many believed it would be other solutions. It shows the importance of doing this together and doing what Sweden is very good at, namely cooperation between politics, academia, and society.

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Jonathan Svensson (S)

Madam Speaker! I would like to direct my question to the Minister for Employment. It has been a little over a year since the election. The Minister and the government he sits in claim that they then received a clear mandate from the Swedish people. There was talk about how Sweden would get a new direction. More people should enter work. Fewer should need to go on benefits. And more foreign-born people should get a workplace to go to.

Last week, the members of the chamber received a small booklet in their mailboxes. The booklet was from the Government Offices and described the bills that the government intended to submit to the Riksdag during the autumn. Several members noted that it might be a bit thin in several areas. A very clear example is the minister's area of responsibility: the labor market.

I therefore want to ask the Minister how he and the government he sits in will act to ensure that more people get into work, fewer become dependent on benefits, and more foreign-born people enter the labor market, even though in practice hardly any proposals are being placed on the Riksdag's table.

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

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! Sometimes one gets the impression that the temple at the top of the mountain is Arbetsförmedlingen or the labor market policy. We - my government - believe that the work begins somewhere else. It begins in primary school. It is about ensuring that young people get through primary school and are given an opportunity to secure both their first job and their next job. It is about us having a Swedish business sector that is growing and which, just as now, wants to continue investing in Sweden. That is how you create the conditions.

But there is much we are doing. We are now getting the establishment jobs in place. It is stated in the budget bill. I call it a bill, which I have partially been involved in writing myself. We also announced the other day that we are now moving forward with a major bill on a modern, strong Swedish unemployment insurance that counters fraud and errors, which ensures that people get the right unemployment benefit, that it arrives at the right time and to the right person.

We do all this so that people will get into work, become self-sufficient and contribute as nation-builders in the wonderful country of Sweden.

Question time was hereby concluded.

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