Question Time

ANDRE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions today will be answered by Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson, Minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall, Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, and Minister Romina Pourmokhtari.

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. Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson answers both general political questions and questions within his own area of responsibility.

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Johanna Haraldsson (S)

Madam Speaker! September 2023 will go down in history as the darkest of months. We have seen more shootings and explosions than ever before, and the gangs' cruelty continues to shock. It can be easily stated that the need for interventions has never been greater, not least when it comes to crime prevention work.

That is why I, and likely many others, become concerned when we read the government's budget bill. Instead of investing in preventive measures, cuts are being made. 250 million in support for measures in vulnerable areas has shrunk to 80 million – a support that is used, among other things, for more field assistants and improved cooperation between social services, school, and police.

At the same time, grants to municipalities with high refugee reception are being abolished. Together with insufficient general state grants to municipalities, this risks leading to a reduction in preventive measures.

I would therefore like to ask Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson: How is it that the government is cutting support to the municipalities at the same time as we know that they are on their knees?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank Johanna Haraldsson for a central and important question.

It is with sorrow that we take note of the catastrophic developments in our country. We see how lives are extinguished, dreams are shattered, and faith in the future vanishes.

The government meets this with both an iron fist and a velvet glove. However, what is claimed about the preventive work is not true, I want to emphasize.

We are allocating 70 million to a preventive social services law to be able to intervene in time. We are allocating 200 million to a special staffing initiative within social services. We are topping up the initiative for the socially most vulnerable schools with 165 million. We are expanding parental support to help parents take responsibility for their own children when this is not quite working. We work both with stopping gangs in prison and helping the children so that they do not become new gang criminals.

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Johanna Haraldsson (S)

Madam Speaker! The numerical trickery that the Minister is performing does not work. No matter how you calculate it, it is a cut. In order for us to be able to break out of the gang crisis that Sweden finds itself in, more money for crime prevention work is needed, not less.

It goes without saying that financially pressured municipalities will have more difficulty implementing measures to break the new recruitment. Is it not time for the government to take responsibility for the crime prevention work and provide the resources required so that the municipalities can truly contribute to breaking the new recruitment?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! This requires both preventive and repressive measures. But it also requires that one can intervene earlier and more clearly. Just take the fact that we are now enabling the social services to act already against youths and children who are twelve years old without the parents' consent. Just take the fact that we ensure that we take care of the State Institutional Board for those youths who we know today have ended up in the gangs' clutches. We are undertaking a multitude of measures in this area.

And so I want to say one thing: Those at Mälarhöjden's IP yesterday were very happy that we are now introducing the leisure card to give all children the opportunity to participate in a meaningful leisure time - to create something other than just a functioning schooling, to find a meaning in life, to find, for example, sports or culture.

(Applause)

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Ludvig Aspling (SD)

Madam Speaker! Only during the first half of this year, approximately half a million people have sought asylum in the EU. Approximately 3,000 people have drowned or been reported missing, but the dark figure is probably significantly larger.

Among those who cross the Mediterranean today, the largest nationalities are Guinea, Ivory Coast, Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Bangladesh and Tunisia. All except Syria have a grant rate of under 10 percent. There are no wars ongoing in these countries. It is difficult to imagine why they would need to flee to the EU at all. I think it is completely obvious that it is about economic migration - one is seeking a better life in the union.

The British Home Secretary recently stated that the absurd situation gives reason to seriously review the UN Refugee Convention, which forms the basis of the European asylum system. It simply does not work in the modern world. Does Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard agree with this?

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Statsrådet Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)

Madam Speaker! I would like to thank Ludvig Aspling for the question. It is exactly as Ludvig Aspling emphasizes: It is an unsustainable migration to Europe. These are people who, primarily for economic reasons, seek to come here, and it concerns, just as Ludvig Aspling says, people primarily from Ivory Coast, Guinea, Tunisia and Egypt, people who traditionally do not have grounds for asylum.

At the same time, I visited Kenya last week. They have one of the world's largest refugee camps. 300,000 people stay there, and very many have refugee status. It is not in their imagination to even have the means required to pay the refugee smugglers to be able to knock on Europe's door.

It is obvious that today's asylum system does not function correctly. I see that more and more people are raising the discussion on how we can better adapt our regulations to use our resources and help those who truly have a need for protection. I believe that discussion will continue.

But the right of asylum applies, and it shall be respected until otherwise has been decided.

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Ludvig Aspling (SD)

Madam Speaker! Right now, a migration is also taking place from Afghanistan. Up to two million people have moved from there to Iran since 2021, and Pakistan - another neighboring country - seems to have decided that a large part of the Afghans living there must leave the country after a number of high-profile terrorist crimes where Afghans have been involved.

We know that both Iran and Russia view migration as an instrument that they will want to use against Europe, and they will likely assist these people on the way towards the EU. What preparedness does Sweden have for a new wave of young men from Afghanistan today?

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Statsrådet Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)

Madam Speaker! Yes, it is a very worrying development we are seeing. I would say that Sweden is much better equipped now, with a different government, a different government base, and a different policy to ensure that we have a regulatory framework that does not stand out, as was the case in 2015, which caused more and more people to seek out Sweden compared to comparable countries. We must continue in that direction.

But the answer also lies in the EU. And yesterday we received the joyful news that we are getting a crisis regulation in place that also covers instrumentalization to stop exactly that—states using migrants.

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Gudrun Nordborg (V)

Madam Speaker! I want to ask Johan Pehrson about the working environment within the criminal justice system. The reason is primarily many emails from very concerned employees who question the safety due to extensive double-bookings, which now affect at least 2,500 clients, and because many of the permanently employed colleagues are resigning. This happened last year for almost every fifth employee, and there may be even more this year.

Both things increase the risk of stress, threats, and violence, and my question is: How can the Minister contribute to ensuring that the staff have a safe and reasonable working environment?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! A good working environment is absolutely central in Swedish authorities, Swedish organizations, Swedish parties, and Swedish companies. It is an important part of one's life, and therefore the government is making large-scale investments in, among other things, the Prison and Probation Service to meet the fact that we are trying to facilitate the situation for many other authorities that have problems.

As you know, there is a murderous activity out on our streets that is catastrophic. The situation we have built up in Sweden, or that has developed over ten years, must be dealt with, and that requires that the persons who engage in that activity are arrested and prosecuted, if possible. Then they shall serve a prison sentence.

We are now trying to catch up on the shortage within the Prison and Probation Service, regarding both prison places and staff. We have a close dialogue with the Prison and Probation Service regarding the difficult challenge they face.

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Gudrun Nordborg (V)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the attempt at an answer.

What I want to counter with is that those who contact me are well aware that new correctional facilities are being built. They are also well aware that it is practically impossible to recruit to the correctional services anymore.

Having buildings without staff will not solve anything, and the fact that there is a continued strong overcapacity of the employees today poses a great risk for the employees.

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! I share the view that Sweden is in a national crisis regarding domestic security. The way out is to work with the authorities so that they are given the conditions to grow.

Within Arbetsförmedlingen, for example, an agency that I am responsible for, work is being done to try to get people to apply for the profession in different ways, because we need more people who work with correctional services and with the important vision that people should come out better than when they came in. But it is very difficult in the current situation depending on the situation that Sweden finds itself in regarding domestic security.

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Martina Johansson (C)

Madam Speaker! For several years, I have pushed for the social services to have uniform and evidence-based methods to ensure the participation of children and young people in the investigations concerning them. This applies both within child and youth care as well as within family law. Yesterday, the government issued a press release stating that this shall now take place within the social child and youth care, which means that the government is taking a step in the right direction. But at the same time, it states in the Tidö Agreement that prosecutors shall be able to take into custody more children and young people according to LVU.

My question to the Minister for Social Services is: If work is now being done to strengthen the social services' work, how does the Minister mean that prosecutors then have the competence to take children and young people into care while the children are also to be involved in such a decision?

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you very much, Member, for an important question!

For the government, it is extremely important that children's rights are strengthened, and an important component in this is that children are listened to. A new LVU is important legislation where children's rights shall take precedence over adults' rights, and it is an important part of the propositions that will be submitted during the next year.

At the same time, we have today a situation that is appalling, where children as young as ten years old are being recruited into criminal networks. Society cannot stand by in silence while these young people are drawn into these criminal networks. This means that in the long run we are to have fewer detentions, but that during a period ahead we will likely need to detain more children to ensure that they do not fall into the grip of the criminal networks.

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Martina Johansson (C)

Madam Speaker! I note that the Minister does not answer the fundamental question I have. We agree that it is a difficult situation where more children and young people need early interventions, but my fundamental question is whether prosecutors have the competence for the type of decisions concerning children and young people in care, which it states in the Tidö Agreement that prosecutors shall make, while at the same time we say that social services should be strengthened.

The question is, therefore: Are prosecutors competent to make that type of decision?

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member again for the question.

The situation is, naturally, that the social services must be further strengthened when it comes to making these important trade-offs. Fundamentally, it is about being able to make early preventive interventions so that placements never have to occur.

We are working on this in several steps right now, and we see that the courts' competence in children's issues needs to be further strengthened.

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Elin Söderberg (MP)

Madam Speaker! I turn to Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. In large parts of the country, there is today a shortage of labor. In some municipalities, industry and welfare compete for the same personnel, and several municipalities are sounding the alarm about the difficulties of providing elderly care and home care with staff.

Svenskt Näringsliv has previously shown that the foreign expertise working in Sweden strengthens GDP by 43 billion and contributes 14 billion in tax revenues. The companies that have recruited labor migrants are also doing better. The government has, however, prioritized making labor immigration to Sweden more difficult and encouraging people to leave the country. From November 1, one must earn 80 percent of the median wage to obtain a work permit.

No activity can function without staff. My question is therefore: Who will take the jobs?

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Statsrådet Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Elin Söderberg, for the question!

Competence supply is incredibly important. It is not true that the government has made it more difficult for labor immigration, but rather we have restructured it. We want to facilitate high-skilled labor immigration, where Swedish companies competing in a very highly competitive international market have had difficulty recruiting due to long processing times. Now we are restructuring the model completely, and the Swedish Migration Agency is introducing a 30-day guarantee for high-skilled workers.

It is true that it is not reasonable to come here from the other side of the world to earn 13,000 kronor a month. Thousands come every year just to work in cleaning, at fast-food restaurants and as newspaper carriers. We believe these are jobs that to a much greater extent can be performed by people who are already here but who do not yet support themselves.

Therefore, changed rules with a raised subsistence requirement are required, but also a subsidy reform, which we are now rolling out.

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Elin Söderberg (MP)

Madam Speaker! But we have a demographic challenge in Sweden. When it comes to people of working age, based on the population projections, it is people from other countries who are expected to constitute the increase of the existing workforce in Sweden moving forward.

Over the next ten years, the number of people born in Sweden who are of working age will decrease, while the population aged 80 and over will increase significantly. We will therefore have a labor shortage.

And since there is no desire to back down on the decisions, the question to the government instead is: Which activities does the government consider should be dismantled or reduced as a result of less labor in Sweden?

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Statsrådet Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)

Madam Speaker! I want businesses in Sweden to flourish. But I also want those who do not go to work today, who are far too many, to do so. If we then carry out a benefit reform that makes it much more rewarding to have a salary than to receive benefits, while simultaneously focusing labor immigration on the more highly qualified jobs, I am convinced that many more, not least of those who have come from other countries to stay, can also stand on their own feet economically. I believe that is very good for Sweden.

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Helena Storckenfeldt (M)

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

Sweden is in a very difficult situation. We have high inflation that pressures both the welfare system and households. At the same time, we have high unemployment. A full-scale war is ongoing in our vicinity, and we have a horrific gang crime that is tearing society apart. Simultaneously, a climate crisis is underway.

Difficult times require prioritization, even in the budget, Madam Speaker. I therefore wonder how the Minister has prioritized in terms of the green transition. How is Sweden to transition in such a difficult situation?

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member Storckenfeldt, for a wise question!

In times of harsh economy, it is easy to choose to lean back and focus on what is most urgent. But then it is important to keep in mind that the frog boils slowly in a climate crisis such as the one we are experiencing.

It is a matter of protecting the climate despite tough economic times. Therefore, I am proud that this government has a strong climate and environment budget. If one wants to compare, one can see that Miljöpartiet allocated 8.9 billion in 2017, and we are allocating 19.3 billion this year. Furthermore, the largest budget ever voted through by this chamber was a right-wing budget.

I think it is important that one spends the money on the right things and that one does the right thing at the right time. But that we should invest in Sweden being able to manage the climate crisis and stand strong in the green transition is of utmost importance, even in difficult economic times.

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Helena Storckenfeldt (M)

Madam Speaker! I would like to thank the Minister for a good answer. It certainly sounds as if Sweden is heading in the right direction with a bourgeois government.

The climate demands seriousness and that we focus on the right things at the right time. Sweden has a unique position in the green transition. It is about more clean electricity and having a holistic perspective on the transition.

I usually say that global problems require global solutions. I therefore wonder in what way Sweden can contribute to the global transition.

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for another wise question.

It is a matter of us doing the right thing at the right time. Part of that is, just as the member mentions, that we in Sweden have come a good way on our transition journey. We are not completely at zero, but we are on a better path than we were with the previous government. That is positive.

Now we need to invest in financing the transition further in other parts of the world, which we are doing. The Government is clear that we shall expand climate aid.

It is also a matter of us sharing all the lessons we have learned. What mistakes have we made? What have we done that we do not want other countries to do? Part of that is that we now stand with the solutions, the investments, and the will, but lack the electricity. That is also something that Sweden can share with other countries.

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Larry Söder (KD)

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

It is no secret that we need to build more housing in Sweden. And in the current situation, we need to build significantly more than we are capable of. Therefore, measures to facilitate housing construction are important.

Today, the shoreline protection is hindering residential construction. We cannot build in the places that are attractive for people to live in. Many municipalities feel that it is hindering their development.

It would be desirable for the government to present a new proposal regarding shore protection that means municipalities are given greater opportunity to decide where the shore protection is located and where new housing can potentially be built.

The government has an investigation on the coastal protection, which is on the table, as a baseline. My simple question to the Minister for the Environment is: Can we expect that a new proposition will be submitted to the Riksdag?

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member Söder, for a wise question!

The government is working hard for Sweden and for Sweden to become freer. It is something that this government truly safeguards. Shoreline protection is an important issue when it comes to Sweden becoming freer.

The government has started a record number of investigations since we took office, and many other processes are currently underway in the Government Offices. Shoreline protection is an issue concerning environmental assessment. Our expertise in environmental assessment is currently activated in issues concerning nuclear power, new industrialization in Norrland, mining, and much more. There are therefore many issues that are closely linked to the work we do, not least in the Tidö Agreement. That is how we plan the work of the Government Offices.

We consider, like the Christian Democrats, that this issue has dragged on and that it should be handled within this mandate period.

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Larry Söder (KD)

Madam Speaker! It is pleasing that the Minister, as do I think, that this government should invest in a freer Sweden and in that the municipalities should become freer when it comes to deciding where one can build and where in a municipality it is attractive and suitable to build. Many municipalities feel that it is hindering that large parts of the municipality are blocked by the shore protection.

I believe it is important that we move forward with a proposition. It would be good for housing construction; we need more housing.

Does the Minister think it is important that the municipalities get greater discretion over the shore protection?

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! Like the Christian Democrats, the entire government cooperation considers it an important issue. The shore protection should be changed. The parties have somewhat different positions, so we will need to reach an agreement before we can present proposals.

But it is, as said, a question that we also believe should be handled. The Government will need to handle the question during the mandate period, so that we can make Sweden a little freer and build more housing in our beautiful, elongated country.

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Malin Danielsson (L)

Madam Speaker! An important issue for us Liberals is that people with disabilities should receive the support they need to be able to live a life like everyone else. Therefore, well-functioning legislation regarding personal assistance is crucial. And LSS is a freedom reform that we care about and want to develop.

At the turn of the year, the strengthened right to personal assistance entered into force. The legislative change was intended to address the problems that have led to fewer people being granted assistance according to LSS in recent years. According to the investigation preceding the legislative change, it was estimated, for example, that 720 children would eventually be granted an expanded right to assistance.

Recently, however, several media outlets have reported on several cases where the interpretation of the new parental deduction has resulted in the opposite. Children who previously had the right to personal assistance have been denied.

My question to Minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall is therefore: How does the government follow up on whether the legislative change has had the intended effect, so that persons in need of assistance receive the support they are entitled to?

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for an important question! It is an important question for the entire government. Not least after the two terms that have expired, the situation for persons in need of personal assistance has been very worrying. This government's intention is that the situation shall not be such.

Just as the member said, the intention with the introduction of strengthened assistance and the parental deduction was that more children should be entitled to assistance compensation and that children who already had assistance compensation could be granted more hours. The Government has tasked Försäkringskassan with evaluating the reform on strengthened assistance. We are now following the development very closely.

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Malin Danielsson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for the answer, Minister! And thank you for following up on the question. It is very important.

It is already tough for parents of children with extensive disabilities to make everyday life function. It is also about children's right to an independent life. It is also important that parents of children with disabilities can continue to work.

I understand that the Minister must await the evaluation. But if it turns out that the legislative change has not had the intended effect, what possibilities does the Minister see for the government when it comes to ensuring that more children receive the assistance they are entitled to?

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you again for the question. It is an important question. It is incredibly important for the government in this time of uncertainty to ensure this. The federalization of the assistance reform is, for example, a very important part in ensuring that people who previously fell through the cracks will no longer do so. It is one of the things we are currently focusing strongly on.

When we receive the evaluation back from Försäkringskassan, we will, of course, analyze it and return with any further measures.

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Joakim Järrebring (S)

Madam Speaker! When I see the SD government's reduction in the investments to upgrade paths and support outdoor organizations, it hurts my heart. The previous, Social Democratic government understood the value of investing resources in these areas. We know how important it is for people's health to get out into the forest and to be able to pick berries and mushrooms - yes, to experience nature. We also understand that such investments create jobs, especially in the countryside.

Madam Speaker! Upgrading trails and supporting outdoor organizations is not just a matter of recreation. It is a matter of public health, rural development, and biodiversity. I ask the Minister Pourmokhtari if these values are not of interest to the government.

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! Let me first and foremost say that these questions are of great importance for the government. It is very important to ensure that as many as possible have access to the wonderful nature in Sweden. I welcome that the previous government, in a situation with a very strong economy for Sweden's part, invested in safeguarding the country's hiking trails, renovating them and arranging grill sites and other things that make the hiking trails more accessible and can be utilized in a better way.

We are not in the same situation now. We have a tough and tight economy. We must prioritize. We must put the money on what is most important. This government is investing heavily in, for example, the protection of valuable nature, which is also an important initiative to protect much of the sensitive nature that exists in the country. It is not a task that I would have wanted to set aside in order to instead protect the hiking trails. It is simply a matter that politics, in some cases, is about priorities. Then one has to prioritize, however difficult it may be.

(Applause)

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Sara Gille (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Integration, Johan Pehrson.

Honor violence and oppression are violations of human rights that Sweden shall actively combat. Despite this, violence and oppression - including murder - occur in the name of so-called honor in Sweden.

Last summer, two brothers killed their mother and her new partner on Hisingen in Gothenburg. The case proceeded to the Court of Appeal, which is now sentencing one of the brothers for, among other things, murder and attempted murder. The Court of Appeal also considered it proven that the crimes were committed with honor motives.

We know that the government, with the support of the Sweden Democrats, is investing much more money in the fight against honor-related violence and oppression than the previous government did. We agree that more needs to be done to counter honor-related violence and oppression and to ensure that it actually ceases in Sweden.

Years of failed integration policy have led to the fact that we today have a country where honor killings, oppression, and violence are commonplace. How will the government work forward with integration to put a stop to murders and violence linked to honor oppression?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! All violence and all oppression must be combated, but we must be aware that there are structures and a so-called clan rule. There are thoughts that someone else should decide over young people's - or women's - future. It is a development that has changed and perhaps been reinforced when many people have come to Sweden and have not quite embraced the Swedish values that are central to everyone's equal rights.

The government has, in addition to the initiatives we have reported in the budget and legislated on, commissioned an inquiry into a new national strategy to truly prevent all gender-related violence and also the honor oppression that affects so many women of all ages in our country. Human rights apply to everyone in Sweden, regardless of when you arrived in Sweden.

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Andrea Andersson Tay (V)

Madam Speaker! Vänsterpartiet proposes a total of 4 billion more than the government to protect nature next year. The absolute majority of these funds go towards formally protecting forest through increased appropriations to Naturvårdsverket and Skogsstyrelsen.

We consider it unacceptable that forests with high natural values are being logged today instead of being protected, and that landowners are being squeezed because they do not receive compensation when they want to give their forests formal protection.

The government's budget proposal is far from reaching the levels required according to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's assessment. The agency states in the budget basis for the next three years that a sufficiently high baseline is a prerequisite to fulfill Sweden's national and international commitments and to ensure that landowners do not get caught in the crossfire. It is a very clear message regarding the conditions from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

My question to the Minister for Climate and Environment is therefore how the Minister intends to ensure that Sweden lives up to national and international commitments and that landowners do not get squeezed despite the government's insufficient budget.

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! Let me begin at this end: In 2017, the red-green government spent 8.9 billion. In 2018, they spent 10. In 2019, they spent 11. In 2020, they spent 12. In 2021, they spent 18. Then came a right-wing budget with 23.7 billion. Now we are coming with 19. So it would be a terrible cut? It is simply not true.

This government invests in both environment and climate, but ends with what we consider does not work and develops what we consider works. Therefore, the government chooses, for example, to invest in precisely the protection of valuable nature. We see that there are many forest owners in Sweden who, wonderfully enough, want compensation from the state to protect forest and nature that has particularly high nature values, and we provide funds so that forest owners do not have to stand in line any longer. They are in line! There are too many who want to protect their nature, and it is a fantastic development that the government intends to safeguard by providing funds, as we have done in this budget, for the protection of valuable nature.

(Applause)

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Catarina Deremar (C)

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

Emissions from consumption have decreased over the last ten years, but now the trend has unfortunately reversed. Sweden is at the top among countries with high consumption emissions. Statistics show that during 2021, emissions increased by 9 percent. It would be unsustainable if everyone consumed as we Swedes do. We must do something about it. Now the government has done the opposite and raised the VAT on repairs of shoes and textiles. That sends the wrong signals. Instead, we in Sweden should have climate goals linked to consumption, just as the previous environmental goals preparation – in which the Liberals also participated – concluded.

My question to the Minister for Climate and Environment is whether and, if so, when the government will introduce consumption-based climate targets.

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! Thanks to the member for a very pressing question! Very many across the world are discussing how we should reflect on our consumption-based emissions.

What I can reflect on regarding the goals is that we currently have very many different goals. They overlap, and they target different sectors. There isn't really any analysis of how to approach all these different goals with different years and regulations. Did one, for example, know that in Sweden, when we calculate the aviation sector's emissions, we exclude domestic flights? There is much to reflect on here. We really need to review how we design our goals and ensure that we work strategically in a sensible way to reach the climate goals that have been set.

I am primarily thinking that it is very important that we in Europe do everything we can to meet our commitment in the Paris Agreement. It is a matter of us showing the world that with a strong economy and with a strong union that can legislate, we can step forward and really take the lead and show that we can manage it. Therefore, it is pleasing that we, with the Fit for 55 package, have clear goals to work towards.

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Katarina Luhr (MP)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Romina Pourmokhtari and also concerns consumption-based targets.

If I have understood correctly, the government parties and the Sweden Democrats want to prioritize reducing climate emissions abroad over the emissions here. Minister Pourmokhtari has also expressed that Sweden should be a world leader in climate work.

During the previous parliamentary term, an agreement was reached between all parties to introduce a goal to reduce our emissions abroad. It was something that was then considered to be completely world-leading.

Right now, Sweden's climate reputation is collapsing in the world. I would therefore like the Minister for Environment and Climate to tell us how the work to reduce our consumption emissions is progressing. What is the government doing?

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! That our reputation should fail abroad is not true. I notice it every time I am abroad and negotiate. Sweden is seen as the strong party that has led the way, has had a high pace and continues to have a high pace but lacks the spark.

That is what we are primarily discussing. How are we to phase out fossil fuels, and how are we to build up an electricity consumption that can meet our transition, where the transport sector is rapidly switching to electricity and where even the industry is rapidly switching to electricity?

We are the country that has invented fossil-free steel. We are the country with Volvo and Scania, which contribute to the transition worldwide with trucks that do not roar out exhaust fumes. That is Sweden abroad. There should be no doubt about that.

What we do is simply see that one is not an example if others do not follow. How can we contribute to more people following? We can do this, at least, by Swedish companies exporting clean products and services.

But we can also do it by developing our climate aid and sharing all the lessons and knowledge we have on how to truly transition. It is a task that I think everyone in the Riksdag should be very proud of.

(Applause)

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David Josefsson (M)

Madam Speaker! In my hometown of Gothenburg, it was observed two years ago that there are major problems with a culture of silence within the social services. It is about, if one is to be a bit frank, clans that directly or indirectly influence the staff in the social services not to act or not to report on irregularities.

To address the problems we have today in our vulnerable areas, we must crush this type of clans. Then, social services, together with the police, school, and other social actors, must be an important part, and then we must address the culture of silence.

Therefore, my question to Social Services Minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall is what measures she intends to take to rectify this unhealthy culture.

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you very much for an important question!

I travel very much around the country, meet social services, and have it described very clearly to me what a tough work environment and work situation one has. I have also been to Gothenburg several times.

This is incredibly important to get right. Therefore, the government is doing a number of different things. This includes, among other things, a bill regarding the ability to use security guards on-site in municipal buildings and at social services. Rules are being developed regarding harsher penalties specifically regarding crimes against social services personnel.

It concerns supplementary directives on measures to reduce the vulnerability of public employees. It concerns tightening the penalties for threats and violence against officials, and a new crime targeting insults against officials will also be introduced. There are many measures, both long-term and short-term, on the way forward.

I also want to emphasize that it is a long-term preventive work that builds trust which, in the long run, is the only possible way.

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Camilla Rinaldo Miller (KD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Malmer Stenergard. It concerns the changes for labor migration.

We know that several referral bodies have had objections to the proposals regarding labor immigration with higher wage requirements. One way to address these objections and enable labor immigration in occupations where demand cannot be met by domestic labor is to promptly introduce exception rules within relevant shortage occupations, which is also specified in the Tidö Agreement.

However, there will be three months between the time the higher wage floor is introduced and when the new investigation presents proposals for relevant exceptions. If it turns out that major challenges arise for Swedish competence supply within, for example, the green industries, is the minister prepared to act more promptly than usual? It is about using fast-tracks so that the exceptions can be applied as quickly as possible.

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Statsrådet Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Camilla Rinaldo Miller, for the question!

It is exactly as is emphasized here that our change of the labor migration is now occurring in two steps. It is first an increased subsistence requirement of 80 percent of the median wage. The reason why we do not set it fully at the median wage is that the bill submitted by the previous government did not contain any possibilities for exceptions, and that is a deficiency.

That is why we are lowering the supply requirement. We assess that it is at a reasonable level that will not hit any industries too hard. Then we roll out step two. At that point, we will receive an investigation where the objective is the median wage but with the possibility of exceptions for, for example, industries or certain regions. It is important that the investigation is allowed to work in peace and quiet and that it comes forward with a thoroughly worked-out proposal.

This reform is important. It is not reasonable that people come from the other side of the world to work, for example, as cleaners or as newspaper carriers. These are jobs that I assess there are people here who should be able to perform, but where it does not pay off enough to take those jobs today. Therefore, it is important that we, in parallel with this, also carry out a benefit reform so that it pays off better.

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Teresa Carvalho (S)

Madam Speaker! Internship, work training and subsidized employment are important tools for people who are far from the labor market to get into work. At the same time, it is incredibly important that the subsidized employments, our tax money, are not exploited by unserious or even criminal actors.

That is why the consultations between Arbetsförmedlingen and the employers' organizations are incredibly important to prevent fraud and to maintain control. I wonder in what way Sweden becomes a better and safer country by the government and Sverigedemokraterna removing the state funding for these consultations.

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for the question!

Fraud and errors, scams and serious crime, are eating their way into the Swedish body of society. It requires a comprehensive collection to ensure that those actors who do not behave are wiped out and crimes are prosecuted.

We know that it can occur from time to time that even actors within the labor market policy broadly can commit crimes. Unserious actors have nevertheless been granted the right to provide a service at a workplace. Arbetsförmedlingen has a mandate in its exercise of authority to monitor this.

It is completely central that this happens at the agency level and that it is Arbetsförmedlingen that has the task of combating fraud and errors. But we are also introducing other changes in the labor market policy. For example, we are releasing the establishment jobs where the unions specifically are an important player.

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Mona Olin (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Camilla Waltersson Grönvall.

On 1 January 2023, the parental deduction was introduced through the bill on strengthened right to assistance. The purpose was for the parental deduction to generate more uniform assessments, and children would be granted assistance to a greater extent than before.

The Sweden Democrats pointed out in their follow-up motion that it was a step in the right direction but that there was a risk that the new proposals could generate a more restrictive direction than before. These fears were also raised by lawyers and the disability rights movement at large.

It turned out there was reason for the concern. Children have now been granted assistance to a lesser extent than before the legislative change, because the parental deduction is now instead counted twice. It is clear that we in the Riksdag must act.

What does the Minister intend to do to change the situation that has arisen for children in need of personal assistance?

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you very much, member, for the question! This is, as I have said earlier today in this rostrum, a very important issue for the government. It is about being able to ensure security in personal assistance, not least for all those families and parents who we know today are struggling so hard.

The previous government took the initiative for this legislation, and the intention was that the introduction of strengthened assistance and parental deduction would lead to more children being entitled to assistance and that children who already had assistance compensation could be granted more hours.

Now that we have received information pointing in another direction, the government has tasked Försäkringskassan with investigating and returning with a report. We will return when this report is presented regarding whether more efforts need to be made and more measures need to be taken.

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Saila Quicklund (M)

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

The war in Ukraine is raging, and Sweden has received many refugees from there. My question to the Minister for Employment is therefore: How is the government working to ensure that those who have now come here get a chance to learn Swedish and, not least, enter the labor market?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! Few things are more important than Ukraine winning the war that the country is in. The fight Ukraine is fighting is also Sweden's fight for freedom and peace.

With that said, I, and I hope the entire chamber as well, am proud that we are helping people from Ukraine who are fleeing. All of Europe, and many of our other close partners, are doing this. The government is investing concretely in strengthening SFI so that more people from Ukraine get a chance to learn Swedish. We are investing both with opportunities and additional resources.

We have ensured that Swedish as a second language is opened up so that people can obtain this qualification, which is so important if one, for example, wants to work in healthcare, where we know there are needs in Sweden that can be met. As recently as last Friday, the ESF Council decided that an additional over 300 million kronor shall be invested in the coming year on initiatives for Ukrainian refugees so that they shall receive the language and opportunities for work.

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Yusuf Aydin (KD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall.

At an HVB home in Norrbotten, Ivo discovered that drugs and alcohol had been present for a longer period and that there were deficiencies in the competence of the staff. In Skaraborg, Ivo found that staff had not shown extracts from the criminal record register and that staff gave medication to young people without a decision on own care.

According to Ivo, the HVB homes have a new way of working, and as a result, staff are not allowed to look in the youths' bags unless the youths themselves agree to it. The staff argue that they can neither take away the youths' mobile phones nor prevent them from bringing drugs or weapons into the HVB homes.

My question is therefore: What does the government intend to do to address the identified problems?

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you very much, Member, for an extremely important question!

I want to start by saying that I view the situation within HVB care very seriously. We know that drugs, threats, and violence occur, and that the staff have difficulty acting to stop this.

It is important to see HVB as a part of the entire collective Swedish child and youth care, and it is currently being reviewed by the government. There is reason to review the regulatory framework and to investigate whether the staff at HVB should be granted extended powers as part of this.

I am currently awaiting the investigation Children and young people in society's care, which is set to submit its report within a few weeks. The investigation has looked at, among other things, several matters and questions that have an impact on the safety and security at HVB. I will return to this issue in the near future.

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Adrian Magnusson (S)

Madam Speaker! About two weeks ago, the Minister for Employment called a press conference. At the press conference, he announced that the government intends to, during 2024, present a proposal to introduce an income-based unemployment insurance.

The proposal is based on the results presented in the final report SOU 2020:37 A new regulatory framework for the unemployment insurance. This is a large report of over 900 pages, and a number of different proposals are addressed. The most extensive proposal is that the work condition shall be replaced with an income condition, but there are also, for example, proposals that the calculation rules should be changed from a day- and week-based compensation to a month-based compensation. Above all, a tapering of the compensation after 100 days and another after 200 days is proposed.

My question to the Minister for Employment is whether the government intends to proceed with the other proposals presented in SOU 2020:37, for example the tapering. If so – when can the Riksdag expect the proposals to be tabled in the Riksdag?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! A strong unemployment insurance is important in a time when one can suspect that one might end up facing unemployment. If one is affected by this, we must ensure that there is a rapid transition toward a new job; it is important.

We have a thought in Sweden about making people competent and ensuring that they gain the ability for a new job rather than us guarding so that every job remains at any cost. We have a dynamic labor market, and this is something that the parties have pushed for. We are very happy about that.

The investigation received a strong welcome from most of the parties in the labor market. The government is now proceeding with the investigation. The issue has been relevant for ten years. It concerns reviewing the question of moving to a system based on income.

We are also looking at how more people can be covered by different degrees of tapering, but also by phasing out. It is correct that the unemployment insurance should be a trampoline forward for an individual during a period of transition. It must not be the case that one remains with Arbetsförmedlingen longer than necessary, and therefore it is important that we also review a certain phasing out.

I do not want to anticipate that part of the investigation, however. We are working on the bill, and it will be submitted. I look forward to the responses to motions regarding the same.

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Nima Gholam Ali Pour (SD)

Madam Speaker! In Malmö, plans are being made to build yet another mosque in Rosengård. Just like for many other mosques, it is unclear what the sources of funding are and whether the money comes from foreign powers.

During the Quran crisis, almost all mosques expressed that freedom of speech should be restricted in order to ban Quran burnings. There are several examples over the years where mosques have maintained a cultural exclusion by spreading values that are foreign in Sweden. There are examples of mosques that have connections to the regime in Iran, to the Muslim Brotherhood, or to some other organization or some country that pursues a hostile political agenda in Sweden.

My question to the Minister for Integration is therefore: How will the Minister act to counteract the mosques' negative impact on society?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! The Government is working to ensure that funds do not go to organizations or associations that promote extremism or that undermine democracy and act in opposition to our fundamental values expressed in the Constitution of the Realm of Sweden.

The government has announced that we will investigate a ban on foreign funding of religious communities and other organizations across the entire civil society area. It is central to counteracting extremism and the activities that are based on working for separatism rather than inclusion and a Sweden where we stick together.

This is central for the government. I hope that we can return to the issue in connection with the investigation we have announced to counter this type of financing and ensure that it does not become possible.

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Magnus Resare (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard.

The debate on the return of people who have been denied their asylum application has hardly escaped anyone. That a yes should be a yes and a no a no feels fundamentally like something everyone should agree on, but in practice, a no has very often only meant a path into a shadow society.

This problem has, in my opinion, arisen as a result of both a non-existent policy in the area, and an equally non-existent will to create political solutions to the problem. But it has also occurred in combination with the fact that many countries have refused to accept their citizens when these have been deported.

I would therefore like to ask the Minister for Migration: What does the work with return look like today?

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Statsrådet Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Magnus Resare, for a very important question!

The return has been incredibly neglected under previous governments. We are now taking a completely new approach in the Swedish government with a so-called whole-of-government approach, where the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs cooperate in order to be able to speak with the same voice when we meet the countries that still do not receive their own citizens even though this is an obligation under international law.

During the EU presidency, we were also proactive in ensuring that the EU would use all means at its disposal, for example visa restrictions, against the countries that do not take back their own citizens.

As is known, we also use aid as a means of pressure against the countries that do not cooperate with us. It is quite offensive when a state receives aid on extensive levels while simultaneously not wanting to cooperate with us.

We see cautious results, but the government will continue to work diligently. I met with representatives from Somalia last week, both in Nairobi and here in Sweden, to put pressure on them.

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Matilda Ernkrans (S)

Madam Speaker! In one year, the SD government has not made Sweden freer but more dangerous and poorer. The SD government now has the opportunity to secure 38 EU billion for Sweden and the Swedish people before 2026. That is quite a lot of money. The amount is almost as large as the reform space in the budget that the SD government itself has presented this year.

This, however, is based on Sweden reaching the goals in the recovery plan that has been approved by the EU Commission for a year now. There, 44.4 percent must come from climate measures. At the same time, the Minister for the Environment presents a budget where they, with unmitigated boldness, increase Swedish emissions.

How is the Minister for the Environment going to ensure that Sweden reaches the goals set out in the recovery plan and that Sweden receives 38 billion EU euros?

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! 38 billion EUR - it is fantastic what funds are available when one has a strong cooperation in the wonderful European Union.

It is just a pity that one does not choose to take in the facts prevailing in this matter, for example that it is half of these billions that concern climate measures. These are not funds concerning the climate in general, but these are recovery funds from the union for our work. There are many countries that change governments, so is Sweden. Then it is simply a matter of the finance minister speaking with the commission about what the new plan is and how the new government intends to work to get money out of the recovery fund.

So, one does not need to worry about these 38 billion EU euros. We in the government will do what we can to convince the Commission that the measures we take, both to safeguard the restart of our society and to safeguard the climate, shall be financed with the funds that are available.

Furthermore, I see no Sweden Democrats here on the government bench, so I decline comments about an SD government.

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Tobias Andersson (SD)

Madam Speaker! On Tuesday, the government submitted the bill New Nuclear Power in Sweden - a first step to the Riksdag. For the first time in four decades, initiatives are now being taken for new nuclear power in Sweden. Briefly, this first step is about removing the legislative limitations that exist today, such as that there may only be ten reactors in operation and that nuclear power may only be located in three places - limitations which, together with the energy policy that previous governments have pursued, have led to both the decommissioning of reactors and a lack of investment in new ones.

But that anti-nuclear power policy is now a mere memory. I would therefore like to ask the Minister for Climate and Environment how the government ensures that the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority has what is required for this upcoming nuclear power boom.

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! It pleases a Liberal to be part of a government that finally takes action on this issue and ensures that Sweden not only produces strong companies and entrepreneurs who come up with solutions for the climate, and can not only transition energy for road transport, households, and all possible parts of our society to electricity, but also ensures that the electricity is there. In that case, it is very important that we, just as the member mentions, clear away all the obstacles that have been erected for nuclear power in Sweden - but also ensure that the safety aspect is protected.

If you want a lot of nuclear power, you have to put your money where your mouth is and make sure to also invest in safety. That is what this government is doing. We are allocating substantial funds to the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, which in various ways works with analyzing the legislation, the situation for nuclear power in Sweden, and how we can ensure that we maintain the safety we need.

The short answer to the question is funding. We are allocating substantial funds.

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Johan Hultberg (M)

Madam Speaker! All our safety is threatened by serious organized crime. Children are recruited into gang crime and become both victims and perpetrators in the bloody gang war that is now raging.

Today's situation is the result of many years of complacency, naivety, and failed red-green politics. It is an enormous task to now reverse this development and achieve a better situation. But it is possible. The Minister for Social Services has said that crime prevention work shall be conducted as systematically and effectively as crime-fighting work. I welcome the many initiatives that the Minister has already taken to make this a reality, such as the work to review the social worker education and to get social intervention teams in place.

I know that the Minister for Social Services yesterday gathered employees from social services across Sweden for a conversation about the serious situation we are currently in. Can the Minister tell us what emerged from that meeting? Did the Minister receive any new input on what measures can be taken to further strengthen the social services in its important work of stopping the new recruitment to the gangs?

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you very much, Johan Hultberg, for this question!

Just as the member describes, the situation is extremely serious. In the last few weeks, it has reached levels that we thought we would never be able to experience. Against that background, it is required that we now unite nationally, that we rise above party boundaries and work with all the good resources that exist in the country.

That is why I gathered, together with SKR, all of Sweden's social services for the first time yesterday. The Government, SKR, and Sweden's collective social services had a first meeting – but not the last. I was very moved by the descriptions that emerged and which pointed out the vulnerability that exists. The issue of dropout prevention was raised, which we took to heart. The Government is now working to establish a national dropout prevention initiative so that there will be the same quality and equality across the entire country.

The new, preventive Social Services Act, which I have received, is in extremely high demand. It gives a bit of extra energy to work towards getting it through as soon as possible.

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Jytte Guteland (S)

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

We find ourselves in a time when new records regarding heat both in the air and at sea, and also in the number of alarm reports, are appearing frequently.

We also see how the criticism regarding the lack of climate action, not least from the Swedish government's side, is common from authorities and in the media. Often, the Minister for Climate and Environment responds that she will handle this calmly on her own, that there is a plan, that there is no reason for concern, that there is an effective climate policy. The self-confidence is good. But the answers on how this is to be done are few.

This autumn, a climate action plan is being planned, which is as it should be, but the question is what it will contain. Is that where we will get answers on what the government must deliver, namely a real climate policy?

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! Yes, there is much that one wants to do to save the climate. I notice, like everyone else, the increasing global average temperature. It is noticed, not least, in that our world's oceans are warming up, and this has enormous effects by, among other things, driving the development we have seen in recent months. It is a serious situation. And in a serious situation, it is important to reflect on what the plan is to meet the goals that Sweden has for net zero in 2045 and net minus thereafter.

Every day I meet representatives from municipalities, industries, and companies - all kinds that contribute to emissions in Sweden. They say they have the plans, they know what they need to do, they are ready, but they lack the electricity. They are in a power queue.

Therefore, the government must primarily ensure that we can electrify our society. We do this best by removing the obstacles that previous governments have erected for nuclear power in Sweden. We do it by ensuring that there is money to approve more offshore wind farms than previous governments have ever done. And we do it by developing our international responsibility to ensure that Sweden is not only an example but that more also follow suit.

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Pontus Andersson Garpvall (SD)

Madam Speaker! Gang crime, the shootings, and the explosions are at a completely different level in Sweden compared to our Nordic neighboring countries. From October 1st this year, the police can conduct wiretapping for preventive purposes. We will introduce visitation zones and the possibility to testify anonymously. We will have double sentences for gang criminals. The youth discount shall be removed, and we will make it illegal to be part of a criminal gang.

Preventive measures are also important. But last year, Finland had two fatal shootings, Denmark had four, and Norway had four. Sweden had 63.

Does Minister Johan Pehrson mean that this is due to the fact that Sweden has allocated significantly fewer resources to crime prevention measures, social interventions, and integration, or could the crime in Sweden simply have other causes?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! Crime can probably be considered to be due to a multitude of things. Over a period of 10-20 years, the naivety has simply been too extensive. One has not seen what has occurred, and one has not wanted to accept the fact that that type of network has operated freely. It has been a matter of tools that were too weak for the Swedish police, irrelevant punishments, and a lack of necessary coercive measures.

Now the government is implementing a multitude of measures. In addition to those mentioned by the questioner, we are moving forward with proposals for expanded camera surveillance. It is an important tool according to the police, and it is absolutely necessary to increase efficiency in this difficult situation.

We are completely convinced of the importance of social interventions that are implemented early, completed schooling, and meaningful leisure time. I mentioned earlier that young men and women should seek out civil society in the form of sports and culture, do things, and find meaning in life. The preventive work also needs to be strengthened in parallel with tough interventions directly against the gangs.

Question Time

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Karin Sundin (S)

Madam Speaker! I know that Social Services Minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall is well aware that many people with disabilities have low incomes. The compensation in the sickness and activity allowance lies far below all wage levels.

I understand that the government wants to be clear about the work principle; everyone who can work shall work. I also think that as a Social Democrat. But I do not understand why the government so clearly punishes those who actually cannot work. When the government is now to introduce an eighth job tax deduction, the pensioners will also receive a raised basic deduction, but the person who, due to a disability, cannot work receives no deductions. Those people who have the hardest time making the money last until the end of the month are disadvantaged when the government lowers the tax for everyone else.

Why does the government not abolish the completely unreasonable and utterly unjust funkisskatt?

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for the question.

The situation for people with disabilities is an important issue for the government. We are working broadly to ensure that a number of different parts, not least within the very important LSS, shall be secured and established. This is also about personal assistance. We are now working on the question of state ownership.

Overall, it is about reviewing the entire situation regarding people with disabilities. We will return with an overview of the situation.

Question time was hereby concluded.

Question Time

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