Question Time

FÖRSTE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions will be answered today by Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson, Minister Erik Slottner, Minister for Education Mats Persson, and Minister Niklas Wykman.

A question must be of an overarching and general political nature or concern a subject that falls within the Minister's area of responsibility and concerns his performance of duties. The question shall therefore not concern, for example, conditions within political parties. Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson answers both general political questions and questions within his own area of responsibility.

Question Time

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

Marcus Wennerström (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question is directed to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs. Healthcare is starving, and how do we choose to use our tax money? When reports of organized crime in healthcare emerge, we need to take decisive action. When creative healthcare contractors erode healthcare, both financially and in terms of trust, we need to stop and put a stop to it.

We Social Democrats have therefore presented several proposals. Authorization for establishment in primary care is one such proposal. Another is a business ban for those who mismanage themselves.

My question to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs is: How does the Minister for Health and Social Affairs view the proposal by the Social Democrats to increase national governance and control in order to brand unserious entrepreneurs in the healthcare sector?

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

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for a truly important question! Fraud and negligence, we have probably always had in all activities. Reporting is neglected or even overbilling occurs. But what we are talking about now, which has also reached healthcare, is crime that is system-threatening. One does not enter healthcare because one wants to help patients, but rather to use it as a way to wash black money white or to finance other crime. It is, therefore, a completely new situation.

Initially, I want to say that we do not rule out any measures. Now we must look at this issue in all ways, and we have done so for some time in the Ministry of Social Affairs; this affects several areas.

We already have requirements for permit issuance from the regions before one enters. But it is obvious that this is not enough, and therefore we must look at confidentiality-breaking provisions, at possibilities to obtain parts of authorities' data, or at adding further permit reviews in different ways. The government is therefore not excluding any measures at this time.

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

Marcus Wennerström (S)

Mr. Speaker! Well – I interpret this kindly as you potentially agreeing with a Social Democratic proposal. But my question then becomes: Why do you not also do this actively, politically? Why, for example, do you discontinue the inquiry into the principle of public access even for healthcare entrepreneurs? Is not increased transparency in healthcare companies precisely what is needed in this case?

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

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you once again, Member, for the supplementary question! I do not want to be pedantic, but the Riksdag has decided on the Local Government Act. In Chapter 10 and the articles that follow, it states very clearly regarding the responsibility of every municipality and region if I shift the responsibility to carry out the activities to someone else. I must have all the oversight and knowledge that is required, because the responsibility lies with the municipality or the region. This, therefore, we must first back up to. What responsibility do I already have, and what tools do I have to be able to fulfill it?

My mission now is to ensure that both municipalities and regions have the tools required to be able to follow up on their decisions and that we complement this with what authorities will also do.

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

Carita Boulwén (SD)

Mr. Speaker! According to Swedish law, a sperm donor may father children in at most six families. But there are those who, after having donated to various clinics, privately or for example in Denmark, have 10, 20, 40 or even more children.

Sweden was the first in the world to ban assisted reproduction with anonymous donors, and since 1985, donor children have had the right according to the law to know their biological origin. Reviews have, however, shown that information is missing for many of those who want to know their origin, including persons who were born after 1985. Some have not been able to obtain any information at all, and some have received information that points to the wrong biological father.

Furthermore, cases of pure sperm theft have been uncovered. Most recently, it concerned a conscript in Uppsala, and previously it has been shown that men in Halland who participated in, for example, fertility investigations or research became fathers of children without either will or knowledge.

I would therefore like to ask the Minister for Health and Care: Does the Minister intend to take any measures to ensure that the laws and regulations concerning sperm donation are followed? Will the Minister also work to ensure that a national donor register is introduced?

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

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for an important question! It is important that I know my origin. These rights we have clarified in law in Sweden. But there was a time before the laws came into existence, and several of the cases that are now in the media originate from that time.

I am pleased that Region Halland has truly delved deep into the issue and appointed an external investigation to clarify what has happened and, as far as possible, make adjustments in retrospect. But everyone understands that measures in retrospect do not help the one who has ended up in this situation. An entire life may have been changed.

Work is also underway in Uppsala, but there it also concerns previous occasions.

What is the government doing then? Of course, we already have oversight over the activities that regions and municipalities are responsible for; we will, of course, maintain that. The question of registers is interesting – it concerns this, but also blood donor registers and other things where we would need a national picture, both in order to be able to monitor the activities and for individuals.

We will follow the issue, together with the work on the upcoming directive from the EU on SoHO, which concerns tissue registers and a bit more.

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

Carita Boulwén (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for your answer!

Several of the men who, without their knowledge, became sperm donors have reacted with both shock and anger. Someone states that he was subjected to pure rape. This must be seen as pure abuse.

Does the Minister intend to take further measures for those affected and to ensure that no more are affected?

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

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! What happened before the law was introduced were criminal acts. The problem is that the individuals concerned, who are believed to have committed this and who, in the case of Halland, have been able to be investigated, are no longer alive and therefore cannot be prosecuted.

But what we can do now is to ensure that this works from now on and into the future. Each region is working intensively on the issue. We will also return to the question of registers. We are preparing it together with the question of the need for other registers.

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

Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)

Mr. Speaker! There is a school owner in Saudi Arabia who enforces the hijab and a ban on criticism of the regime and who, of course, as they have there, has gender-segregated schools and also some Quran teaching - forced, of course. This is a school owner who also has schools in Sweden.

What does the Prime Minister say about this? He has no idea. It is very strange. How is this possible? The very foundation of Swedish school is the democratic mandate, so how can the government not have an idea that there are school providers who simultaneously run schools where regime criticism is illegal and who apparently do not fully comply with the democratic foundation for Swedish school?

Centerpartiet is clear. Kunskapsskolan, as it is the case in this instance, actually gets to choose: Do you want to follow the Swedish school model or the Saudi model? One cannot think that both are reasonable. Does the minister agree?

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

Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Niels Paarup-Petersen, Centerpartiet, for the question! I believe that there are many people who attend a friskola or have children in school who are very worried about how it works in Swedish school.

From the government's side, we are carrying out intensive work to organize the independent school system we have in Sweden for Swedish children attending Swedish schools. The government has appointed an inquiry, and that inquiry looks, among other things, at how we can ensure that Swedish school fees are not used abroad and that those funds go to Swedish students. There is also work where we are looking at whether it is possible or appropriate to stop foreign ownership of independent schools in Sweden.

One can therefore not claim that the government is not acting in the matter of ensuring that children and young people in Sweden receive a good education. We take full responsibility.

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

Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)

Mr. Speaker! There was a lot of talk, but the question remains. Would you have accepted that a Saudi head of school who had a ban on criticism of the regime etcetera in his schools would establish itself in Sweden? I hope the answer is no. That would have been the case from us. And this should apply in both directions. Do you think it is reasonable that a head of school stands for this type of school fundamentally, or do you want schools to function according to democratic values?

We want the requirements to be tightened regarding all principals living up to the school act's requirements on democratic values. Does the Minister for Education agree?

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

Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Mr. Speaker! I perceive that there is broad support in the Riksdag regarding the fact that we need to do something about the free school regulations that we have in Sweden. We need to obtain clearer control, and students should feel secure that regardless of which school they choose, it is a good education. This also involves ensuring that Swedish school money is not used abroad and that the money shall go to Swedish students. It is also about reviewing the question of whether we can stop foreign ownership of free schools in Sweden.

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

Rebecka Le Moine (MP)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Ankarberg Johansson.

On Sunday, the ship Marco Polo ran aground off Karlshamn. More than 150,000 liters of diesel and heavy fuel oil have leaked out. Birds and fur-bearing animals are dying. Non-profit organizations are currently fighting to save wildlife.

When such disasters occur, it is important to act quickly but also correctly. It is important to learn from previous cases and evaluations. And what has emerged from previous cases is that there is a lack of clear cooperation and clear division of roles between authorities. The municipalities are the ones who have to pay the cleanup bill.

My question is: What is the government doing to ensure that the polluter pays principle applies, so that it can be demanded that the shipping companies take greater responsibility? And what is being done to achieve a clear distribution of responsibility for future disasters?

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

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Every time something like this happens, it has far-reaching consequences. As the ship now moves, we can also see how the danger moves. Every time an incident of this kind occurs, one must learn a lesson and act in every way possible.

What the member is raising, cooperation between authorities, is particularly important. I want to take that question to the government and to the responsible minister. I believe it is very wise that when this has finally happened – that which we did not want to happen – we also look at all parts of it. We shall not make excuses for anything but truly go into depth and look at matters concerning cooperation between authorities and at matters concerning the one who operates the ship and is responsible for it. The question is important, and it is far-reaching, because it affects things for a long time to come.

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

Rebecka Le Moine (MP)

Mr. Speaker! As long as we remain dependent on oil, we are dependent on the transport of oil across water, and that entails a great risk. Regardless of how many lessons we can learn from previous cases, we must know that oil dependency is risky at every stage. Therefore, we need to make ourselves independent of oil and phase out the fossil. My question to the Minister is: How does this catastrophe affect the government's view on oil dependency, and what political measures is the government prepared to take to phase out oil?

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

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I believe the member has often commented on the government's strong ambition to achieve more fossil-free electricity. It has escaped no one.

It is necessary that we work broadly both when it comes to fossil-free electricity and when it comes to using all other types of energy to manage this. The government's work is broad and affects all sectors. We must think ahead, because the goal must be to manage without that which destroys our earth.

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

Adam Reuterskiöld (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Financial Markets Niklas Wykman.

In the current economic climate, with drastic changes in both inflation and interest rates, there are many factors affecting the economy. Right now, many of these factors are interacting and affecting the Swedish real estate sector negatively. This can also, in the long run, risk affecting financial stability. Lately, we have seen real estate companies having difficulty with refinancing, while at the same time we see that real estate companies with more stable balance sheets do not have such problems.

How does the Minister for Finance view the risks in the Swedish real estate market, and how does the Minister assess how this may affect the stability of the financial system?

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Adam Reuterskiöld, for the question! Our authorities, which make these types of assessments, point out that the risk level is elevated and that it is a consequence of rapidly rising capital costs. When inflation has returned to the economy, interest rates have been raised, and then it becomes more expensive to finance oneself.

This exposes some risks, and we have seen, for example, how it has been difficult to refinance on the bond market. There we see that it has loosened up a bit again. There are those who have refinanced with bonds. We also see how some transactions have been able to be carried out on the real estate side.

It is clear that many real estate companies need to continue to reduce their balance sheet and reduce the risk and indebtedness by bringing in new capital and selling properties or by, for example, exchanging a portion of bond loans for bank loans. But overall, the conditions are good for that type of business.

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

Adam Reuterskiöld (M)

Mr. Speaker! How does the Minister for Finance view the possible need for measures from the government's side?

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! There are three things that can be stated. The first is that some have earned very much money on this and taken on very much risk. It would be immoral and economically unjustified to buy them out.

The second thing is that we must safeguard that the regular market functions. It is about bond markets, that one should be able to sell things. Bankers' strong position helps to facilitate such transactions.

The third is that if there are threats to financial stability or major national interests in Sweden, the government is of course prepared to act and will do so.

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

Larry Söder (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I would like to ask a question to Minister for Health Acko Ankarberg Johansson.

Within both personal assistance and HVB, the occurrence of welfare crime has been noted. The authorities also unfortunately report that criminals have now entered the health and medical care sector. When criminal gangs use the welfare system as an ATM, it is an attack against society's common safety net and strikes directly against those who are most vulnerable. It is also not about small amounts, but rather quite large sums of money from our common welfare that end up in the criminals' pockets.

I would like to ask the Minister for Health and Social Affairs what measures we are taking to curb this and eliminate as much of it as possible.

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

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for the opportunity to supplement this, for this issue is important! It destroys trust in society when one can use such important things as tax-funded health and medical care to finance crime. It is absolutely necessary that we take action.

Already in June last summer, the government decided to establish a register of healthcare providers. There has not been any such national register before. It has been possible to run through the system without being seen, and it has not been connected.

Right now, we are looking at many different parts. It is about more confidentiality-breaking provisions and about seeing if more parts of the public sector should be given access to information that authorities have. Should it be possible to cross-reference data? How should we view additional requirements for permit obligations? Grounds for exclusion are also something we are looking at.

There is already a lot of legislation, but I believe that a great deal of existing legislation and existing responsibility needs to be supplemented with additional requirements.

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

Larry Söder (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you very much, Minister, for the answer! Just like all other citizens, I am interested in that our common tax funds go to what we actually decide on. It can be grants to individual people or that we actually finance an activity that we think we need.

My question to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs is actually whether the Minister for Health and Social Affairs believes that these measures are sufficient. Or do we need to follow up with new measures in order to be able to curb this? All money that goes to healthcare should go to healthcare.

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

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for the supplement! I do not know if this will be sufficient, but it is my ambition to do as much as possible.

When it comes to personal assistance, we have for a long time seen that people have been exposed to those who use this for wrong purposes. We have seen this for a very long time, and very few measures have had an effect. Just as the member mentioned, we have seen this when it comes to HVB, not least after 2015, when we needed many places. That is when people began to use that part. And we saw it during the pandemic when it concerned the testing operations.

We are therefore behind, but we intend to do what we can.

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

Anna Starbrink (L)

Mr. Speaker! My question is directed to the Minister for Finance. Ukrainian soldiers are fighting with Swedish weapons. At the same time, some state actors adhere to ethical principles that equate the defense industry with pornography, gambling, and tobacco. This applies, for example, to the Pensions Agency. Another example is Miljömärkning Sverige AB, which manages the Svanen eco-label. On the government's behalf, they work with eco-labeling of, among other things, funds and investment products, and they completely exclude weapons.

Personally, I find it difficult to see anything more sustainable than helping Ukraine win the war with the support packages that we can contribute.

My question to the Minister for Finance is: What is the government's position regarding the Swedish defense industry? Is it an important activity that is needed for us to be able to help Ukraine win the war and defend its freedom, and should an investment there therefore be considered a sustainable investment? Or is it an equally bad and harmful activity as, for example, the tobacco industry?

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you for the question, Anna Starbrink! Let me be very clear. It is very clear where the government and, in that respect, all of Sweden stands on the issue of supporting Ukraine and their defense against the horrific attack from Russia. We back Ukraine fully. We do so nationally, and we do so through international cooperation.

Member of the Board Starbrink then follows up with a question regarding the investment policy. Let me say on an overarching level: When different principles are tested against a changed and quite tough reality, such discussions will certainly be conducted broadly. But let me also state that there is no legislative support for a ban on this type of investment, not in AP funds and not in other parts of the state either. However, the Board of the Pensions Agency has made such a decision.

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

Anna Starbrink (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the answer. I believe we all share the feeling when it comes to the importance of us supporting Ukraine. But I think there remains an ambiguity regarding what the government's position is. These are state activities. The company Miljömärkning Sverige works on a mandate from the government and adheres to an ethical principle that is very normative for the entire market and which hinders opportunities for investments in the defense industry, which in turn hinders deliveries. Therefore, I request a clarification. Can the Minister act in some way?

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! Yes, it can of course be perceived as unclear. The question is whether it is. For example, the investment decisions of the AP funds are governed through legislation and not through direct political mandates. Generally speaking, it is an order that most of us who engage in politics are used to. It is about how the Riksdag decides, how the government decides, how independent agencies decide, what is regulated by law, and so on. There is, therefore, a Swedish order for this, and within the framework of that, we shall of course continue to work for Ukraine.

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

Ingela Nylund Watz (S)

Mr. Speaker! Sweden has the worst growth of all EU countries and is predicted to be at the bottom next year as well. Bankruptcies are now increasing dramatically. Likewise, we see that the debts are starting to increase. According to UC, 4,000 people have so far become unemployed within the construction sector and the hotel and restaurant sector. Housing construction has been abruptly halted, and municipalities and regions are signaling a crisis. Many households are under heavy pressure from high prices and high interest rates. Sweden is becoming poorer. Despite this, the government basically lacks measures in its budget to meet the recession.

I would like to ask Minister Ankarberg Johansson: Will the government return with measures, or will you let the recession hit fully and make Sweden even poorer?

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

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for the question! If it had only—if I may use that expression—been a recession, it would have been a different situation. Today we have inflation. I believe the chief economist of SKR called it the inflation monster when she spoke. That is truly what it is. It is the inflation that plagues households, that plagues companies, and which makes it necessary for us to have a restrained view from the government, so that we do not fuel the inflation that today plagues individual households and companies, but also municipalities and regions.

It is only when we get down the inflation that we can use the money in the best way. To have inflation all the time means that the value of the money decreases. A hundred kronor no longer has the same value as it had previously.

The regions now have the tough situation that they have a pension agreement which in itself was wise to establish but which is adjusted with KPI. This year it is adjusted by over 8 percent. And next year it is adjusted by 9.14. It affects everyone.

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

Ingela Nylund Watz (S)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer! I agree that inflation is a contributing cause to why one must be restrained in this situation. But as a government, one can make priorities. Now that we stand at the beginning of a troublesome recession, it is still reasonable that the government at least signals that one has measures on standby. One sees, for example, how the construction industry is crashing completely. Here in the Stockholm region, construction has decreased by 70 percent in recent years. What does the government intend to do to get growth started?

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

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the supplement! Yes, it was just yesterday that we could hear the construction companies speak about how tough it is regarding housing construction, but also about how it is a bit better on the local and civil engineering side. There were still small bright signs in the work.

I know that the government has thought correctly. Of the space we have to use in the budget, we allocate 40 percent to supporting welfare and 40 percent to providing support to households so that they can manage the situation. Then there is other money for us to manage the climate, crime fighting and other things that we need to do. For me, it is the right prioritization. Support welfare and households!

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

Bo Broman (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Finance. Fewer and fewer purchases are made today with cash, as a result of digitalization. There are groups in society that are not as digitized as the average, and these risk falling into both a digital and financial exclusion. Cash is also important from a preparedness perspective. It is the only method of payment that can be used independently of electricity and telecommunications.

We are rapidly moving towards becoming a cashless society, as more and more shops no longer accept cash payments. The payment investigation, which was released this spring, unfortunately left no proposals on how the position of cash can be secured. My question is therefore: In what way is the government working to ensure that we can also in the future use cash as a legal means of payment?

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! Cash is the legal means of payment in Sweden. At the same time, there is a freedom of enterprise and freedom of contract which obviously means that businesses and consumers can agree to settle their transactions also via various digital tools.

It is important that we have a resilience, a resistance in our systems, and just as the questioner pointed out, cash is indeed such a thing that contributes to resilience.

In the Payment Inquiry, there were proposals to further examine the cash issue, just as I know Bo Broman is aware of. Right now, the inquiry's proposals are out for consultation, and once we have gathered the comments that exist and analyzed them, we will, of course, have to proceed with how we are to carry out that work.

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

Bo Broman (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you to the Minister for the answer!

This is an issue that is perhaps more urgent than we realize, and the very infrastructure for cash handling is threatened as its use has decreased so radically. It is therefore entirely correct to look further into the issue, and legislation is needed to ensure that cash can also be used in a practical way in the future.

I would therefore like to ask the Minister: Will we see legislation in this area in the near future?

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! I can only repeat the answer: We are awaiting the views that are now to be submitted, and we will analyze this further and return to the matter, quite simply.

I certainly note that there are many advantages with the digital solutions when it comes to robbery risk and other matters. There are other types of risks with the digital, fraud to mention one example, so further work is needed here, just as the questioner points out.

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

Anders Ådahl (C)

Mr. Speaker! The academy and our educational institutions are the space for free thought. It is a place for respect and for testing perspectives. Yes, it is in fact one of the cornerstones of our free society.

This, however, stands in stark contrast to the authoritarian forces' desire to control and direct both what is thought and what is said. We have recently witnessed this when an enrolled student at Karlstad University abused this space of free thought and threatened and harassed to such an extent that teachers have taken sick leave and fellow students have dropped out of the course. The university management has not expelled the student, as it is believed that legal support and tools are lacking.

The Minister for Education says he stands on the side of the free academy and has announced that the higher education institutions will receive more tools. I wonder: What kind of tools is Minister for Education Mats Persson referring to? What kind of tools are missing at our higher education institutions so that we can, in the long run, actually be able to safeguard our free and open society?

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

Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thanks to Anders Ådahl for the question!

It is very important to stand up for freedom of speech, for the unconditional and curious search for new knowledge, and also for the opportunity to convey that new knowledge to all those who study at our universities and colleges.

In recent years, we have seen a societal development where students, either in groups or individually, drive identity politics or, based on their own political convictions, harass, threaten, or freeze out teachers in their professional work. It is a very, very big problem.

It is obvious that the legal support today is too weak for the educational institutions to be able to act and shut out students who harass researchers or teachers. Therefore, the government intends to return with proposals that make the legal support for the university managements stronger and greater.

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

Anders Ådahl (C)

Mr. Speaker! It is pleasing that the Minister for Education stands on the side of the free academy. That is very good. It is actually uninteresting whether the threats come from the extreme right, the extreme left, or for that matter, the extreme center. It doesn't matter, so to speak, whether it is woke right or woke left.

What we instead need to focus on is to push Olle back early, here and now. Measures are needed, tools are needed, and legislative changes are needed here and now so that we do not see our freedom of speech risked in the academies.

My question is once again: What are the tools that the minister sees as missing?

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

Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Mr. Speaker! I share the view that this type of threats and harassment comes from both so-called extreme right and woke left. Regardless of where the threats come from, they are equally serious and must be combated.

The government has already acted by providing electors and professors with increased criminal protection in the legislation, and we will return with a piece of work to strengthen the legal basis so that one at the universities can more easily shut down students who harass others.

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

Amanda Lind (MP)

Mr. Speaker! The Swedish music miracle, as we usually call the unparalleled Swedish successes internationally within the music field in recent decades, is something that all of us in this chamber want to safeguard. At the same time, we now see how fundamental parts of the music ecosystem and educational chain are in jeopardy.

One of these parts is higher music education. The Royal College of Music in Stockholm states in its budget submission to the government that the compensation amount for the education area of music currently lies at a "so low level that continued erosion has an alarming impact on the quality within higher music education."

This is, of course, very problematic. It affects the amount of teaching hours, the possibility to practically practice on one's instrument, and ultimately the competitiveness of our future Swedish musicians.

My question to Minister Mats Persson is: What does the Minister intend to do to address the underfunding in higher music education?

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

Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thanks to Amanda Lind for the excellent question!

I completely share the view that the Swedish music miracle is something to be proud of. Whether it is the young boy playing piano at home or at the local music and culture school, or whether it is the older teenage girl playing violin in the same culture school, it is an activity that is very important to safeguard. Naturally, our institutions in a broad sense are part of the whole that creates something that I, as a Swede, am very proud of.

Ensuring that our educational institutions have sufficient capacity to provide teaching of very high quality in the future is, of course, an issue that the government is following very closely. The budget that we have now presented contains a number of different initiatives for higher education that I believe will benefit us all in the long run and make Sweden a better country, not least when it comes to music and culture.

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

Amanda Lind (MP)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer!

If I refer again to the Royal College of Music, they state that the compensation amount for the educational area of music is lower than for other comparable artistic fields. Since it was introduced, it has not developed particularly strongly and is not at all at the same pace as other artistic educational fields. In their budget request, they demand a fairly substantial increase in the compensation amount. They do not mince words; they speak of "stopping the dismantling of the Swedish musical miracle."

Does the Minister intend to act so that the compensation amount is increased to correspond to exactly the other comparable art forms?

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

Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thanks to Amanda Lind for the commitment to the issue!

I think the member of Parliament raises many important issues when it comes to ensuring that all our institutions have the right conditions to provide a really good education so that our students can learn enough and we can get value for our tax money.

In the budget for several areas, the government is now expanding the compensation amounts for higher education. This is an issue that we are following very closely.

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

Margareta Cederfelt (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Finance Niklas Wykman.

Sweden has been and is one of the countries that provides support to Ukraine and which is also driving within the EU for the sanctions that exist. We are regularly reached by news where both foreign and European as well as Swedish companies, despite the sanctions, conduct trade and also have business activities and production in Russia.

In light of this, I wonder what measures the Minister for Finance sees as possible and reasonable to take so that the EU's sanctions can have full effect when it comes to supporting Ukraine and countering Russia's war.

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Margareta Cederfelt for a very important question.

The mobilization in Swedish society to support Ukraine against the war that Russia is waging is very strong, and so is it on the sanctions side. Here, Sweden worked actively during our presidency of the European Union, and we continue to work actively to get sanctions in place and for them to be effective and bite. This is, of course, in line with the hopes we have and the assessments we make that more proposals will come from the EU Commission and that more steps can be taken in the European Union for more sanctions and to maintain those that already exist.

Here it is important that Sweden is a respected and active party in the international work. Even though Sweden is an important country and we do many good things, the effect overall is great if we do this collectively, together with others. That is the main direction for that work.

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

Magnus Berntsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is directed to Minister for Finance Niklas Wykman.

Fraud is one of the gangs' absolute largest sources of income. They choose their victims strategically and often target the elderly and vulnerable. The police can also see that criminal networks have begun placing individuals in key societal functions. This week, Sveriges Radio reported that the gangs have insider connections to several of the country's major banks, and there are cases where bank personnel have helped criminals deceive customers out of money.

This is extremely serious, and therefore it is important to stop the gangs in order to end the gangs' opportunities to continue their activities.

How do Finance Minister Niklas Wykman and the government work to counter fraud and insider connections to banks and thereby ensure that no more elderly and vulnerable people are affected?

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! Crime is loathsome. I would dare go so far as to say that much of the fraudulent activity that Magnus Berntsson raises is particularly loathsome. They turn against many of society's most vulnerable, that is to say, people who have worked a whole life and who may now have difficulty handling technology. They systematically exploit their vulnerability. It is loathsome.

The government has taken a number of measures against this. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance are working jointly on several measures. It is about reviewing things such as, for example, spoofing. A broad work is being carried out in society against, for example, infiltration, and it is important to continue working with this also within the banking sector, just as Magnus Berntsson points out.

Let me also emphasize that the banks in Sweden are profitable. One partial reason why they are profitable is the high degree of digitalization. I also assume that a part of the profit is used to strengthen the protection.

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

Mats Wiking (S)

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

On Tuesday, a conference was organized by SUA, Sveriges Unga Akademi, where issues regarding youth research and how Sweden as a research nation stands internationally were addressed.

SUA argues that Sweden has many researchers who conduct successful, excellent research that holds up well on the international arena. SUA, along with several others, simultaneously describes how Swedish research is losing ground and falling in the international rankings. This was raised by SUA as a very serious problem because Sweden's prosperity in large parts is built on the fact that we are competitive in the high-quality research arena.

At the same time, the basis for excellent research is that there is a broad general research base in the country. Excellence requires breadth, and that is very important. It is something that means the minister must have two thoughts in his head at the same time. In view of this, I would like to ask the Minister for Education what he and the government intend to do to strengthen Sweden as a research nation on the international arena.

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

Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Mats Wiking for an excellent and important question.

We have a number of years behind us where research policy and those types of policy areas have been treated as labor market policy and regional policy. It has been a strategic and historical mistake, which also appears in the reviews that are now being conducted. I share the assessment that Sweden has lost ground in recent years and that we need to catch up. It is about consolidating forces, not least by giving young promising researchers in Sweden and in other countries the opportunity to come to Sweden and conduct research. It is further about daring to prioritize the best and most promising and giving them good conditions to conduct research.

It is therefore a matter of dealing with the perception and the view that colleges and universities are part of regional policy and labor market policy. They have an intrinsic value in themselves, not least for creating growth, jobs, and more knowledge in Sweden.

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

Angelica Lundberg (SD)

Mr. Speaker! An investigation from Aftonbladet points out serious deficiencies in several international medical programs in Eastern Europe, where many Swedes undergo their training. The exams are the same year after year, and it is easy to cheat through the entire or parts of the training.

Those who seek care in Sweden should, of course, feel secure that the healthcare staff has the knowledge and competence required to ensure patient safety. Therefore, these are very worrying tasks that involve great risks and danger to people's lives and health.

That we in Sweden have Google doctors treating our children, the sick, and the elderly is completely reprehensible. What does the Minister for Health intend to do to ensure that patients within the Swedish healthcare system are not exposed to the risk that it entails to be treated by someone who has cheated their way to a medical license?

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

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the member for the question. Education Minister Mats Persson and I are looking at each other a bit because the question concerns both of us.

This is about ensuring that there are good educations both in Sweden and in other countries. There, we have agreed within the EU that we accept each other's educations and then we approve them at home.

But at the same time, we must ensure in the supervision of healthcare that the required competence is present. That mission belongs to our supervisory authorities. The National Healthcare Competence Council is now reviewing whether it is a matter of individual handling errors or whether it is a matter of structural errors. This will require measures regardless, but we must review what the reason is for it having become so.

Every time you seek care, you should know that you meet staff who have the best competence and who do their very best to alleviate or cure and give you good care. You should always know that with certainty in Sweden.

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

Jesper Skalberg Karlsson (M)

Mr. Speaker! The Health and Social Care Inspectorate is an important tool for ensuring good and equal care in Sweden, but it is also an important tool for keeping unserious actors out of the welfare system. However, not all operations are covered by Ivo's licensing requirement.

I therefore want to ask Acko Ankarberg Johansson whether it is not reasonable that, for example, protected housing should be covered by Ivos' permit requirement, so that women and children are protected from both the violence and unserious actors who do not meet the quality requirements.

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

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

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

Of course, we need to ensure that protected residences also have the required quality and that they receive residents in a proper way, for example, that they do not become locked in, which has happened, but that the protection functions in a safe and secure way.

I guess the member is asking the question because the government today – which I am very pleased about – has made a decision on a proposition concerning the issue. It addresses ensuring the licensing requirement, so that one knows that the operation meets the quality requirements. The proposition also addresses the issue of strengthening the rights for children and adults in sheltered housing. They are, of course, linked to the licensing requirement.

The government's intention is to strengthen the rights for both the children and the adults in the sheltered housing. That work has been neglected, and nothing has been done for many years. I am therefore pleased with the proposals that will be presented by the government, and you are welcome to look more at the press information. It is Minister for Children and Social Affairs Camilla Waltersson Grönvall who has raised this today.

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

Ewa Pihl Krabbe (S)

Mr. Speaker! Geriatric care in our country is in great need of expansion, partly because the proportion of elderly people will increase by 50 percent by 2030, and partly because Sweden is the country in Europe that has the lowest access to hospital beds. The availability of geriatric care beds is very limited.

According to a new report, there is a need for 320 new geriatric care beds within inpatient care in my home county of Skåne alone. That is seven times as many as we have now. An increase in the number of geriatric care beds means improved quality of life and functional ability as well as a higher survival rate. The greatest responsibility for expanding geriatric care lies with the regions, but the government should be able to facilitate for the regions to expand this part of the healthcare and thereby provide more quality to the care of the very elderly.

I want to ask the Minister for Health in what way the government can contribute to an equitable expansion of geriatric care so that elderly citizens are assured of good care.

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

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

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

First, I want to say that it is pleasing that more and more people can live longer. This is very pleasing, and it is the improved conditions of the welfare system in general terms that has made it possible.

At the same time, we know that one must also be assured of good years. In that regard, efforts from municipalities and regions are very important to support and assist. It concerns both what the social services do and what the health and medical care does. Geriatrics is an immensely necessary component.

The government supports today through a special state grant to ensure that we have the healthcare capacity required and to increase the number of healthcare beds. This is not specifically targeted at different parts, but it is about increasing the number of healthcare beds.

In this budget, we have put the money together to shorten the queues and increase the healthcare capacity. It is 5 billion annually - it is no small amount we are giving to the regions to do this.

One must look locally at what it is that one should increase. I am pleased with the member's commitment to geriatrics. This is something we will need to help each other with.

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

Martin Westmont (SD)

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

Many times our authorities encounter crime in various forms in their daily work. I can mention an example. The National Advertising Board has received cases concerning someone wanting to complain about a narcotics purchase or a purchase of a C-thesis after the person did not receive a passing grade on the thesis.

There is nothing in the agencies' mandates today that says discovered crime shall be reported, so the two cases I just mentioned have not resulted in any report to law enforcement agencies. The Sweden Democrats' view is that the agencies must help each other in the fight against crime and that it is therefore justified for agencies to report the crime they encounter in their activities.

My question to the Minister for Civil Affairs is how he himself views this issue and whether he intends to give the authorities within the consumer area a more law enforcement mandate.

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

Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Member Westmont for a good question.

We have, from the government's side, so far not taken any concrete measures in this area. I am not familiar with these two cases for the National Advertising Board - I must study them more closely and delve into them in order to be able to comment on these specific matters. However, I am absolutely not closing the door on this idea. At previous question periods, I have told Member of Parliament Westmont that I gladly accept good ideas both within the consumer area and within the rest of my political portfolio, both in the form of study visits and trips - which I do very much of - and from individual Members of Parliament.

It does happen that Martin Westmont and I meet at joint meetings, and I am happy to discuss this issue further. If the government would like to proceed with this, I do not think, however, that one should limit itself to consumer-related authorities, but I think that in that case one should have a broader mandate for the authorities.

Let us return to the question.

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

Niklas Sigvardsson (S)

Mr. Speaker! Educational institutions all over our country conduct fantastic research and education daily. However, in recent weeks, the reports from educational institutions across the country have been gloomy due to difficulties in maintaining good quality as a result of shock-increased rents for many institutions that rent their premises from Akademiska Hus. Universities in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Uppsala testify that the rental costs have increased by over 10 percent. In Umeå, the increase is over 13 percent.

Alarms are coming from students, teachers, researchers, and university management that this affects both students and researchers. It could be about research environments that are forced to cut back. It could be about students being forced into Zoom lectures because the number of lecture halls must be reduced - not for pedagogical benefit.

In the long run, this could threaten the role of Sweden as an education nation and Sweden's ability to compete in an international market. Therefore, my question to the Minister of Education is: What does the Minister intend to do to ensure that research and teaching are not cut back due to increased rental costs?

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

Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Mr. Speaker! It is true that we have high inflation in society. This is a poison that makes us all poorer, which affects the entire welfare society and which means that our universities and colleges in some cases - not everywhere - face high costs.

The Government believes it is important that all agencies, including universities and colleges, work actively to reduce their administration and the administrative superstructure that is growing within the entire public sector. There is a documentation sickness in the public sector which means that the number of administrators just keeps growing and growing. This also applies to our higher education institutions.

Work to reduce administration awaits and should be commenced, so that students receive better teaching and so that our researchers get more time to conduct research and spend less time filling out meaningless forms.

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

David Perez (SD)

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

The trial against the 18 people charged as suspects for insider trading recently began. As a consequence of this, a raid by the Economic Crime Authority was carried out against the Stockholm Stock Exchange.

The number of reports of suspected insider crimes is steadily increasing - Finansinspektionen received 406 reports during the previous year. It is also a crime that is very difficult to investigate. Does the Minister, given this, see any need to review or develop the legislation regarding just insider trading and market manipulation, as it appears to be a growing problem?

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! All types of cheating, manipulation, and crime in financial markets must, of course, be countered forcefully, both by the law enforcement authorities and by the various actors in the markets, because trust is the very foundation for financial markets and – fundamentally – our entire social system to function.

I do not comment as Minister on ongoing legal cases and individual cases. Whether there are deficiencies can be evaluated once the processes are completed.

On a general level, I want to give the questioner the right. When it comes to crime fighting and maintaining trust and functionality in various institutions in society, it is obvious that Sweden has fallen behind. Different types of crime and gangs have gained an all-too-strong grip on our society. More needs to be done. Therefore, the government is making major investments in, for example, the police and the courts.

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

Adnan Dibrani (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question also goes to the Minister for Financial Markets Wykman.

Recently, we have woken up to news of shootings and explosions almost every day. Gang violence constitutes a major threat to our democratic society, and therefore it should be met with the full force of society.

Organized crime has advanced positions in a number of areas, and the financial system is used to commit economic crime and launder money. Companies are used to commit fraud and exploit our welfare systems, as many previous questioners have pointed out.

Fraud has surpassed drug trafficking as a source of income for the gangs. The government often speaks about tougher measures as well as going after the gangs' money and making money laundering more difficult by providing better tools to our authorities. This is good, but the question is whether it will be enough.

I have a question for the Minister. Is the government prepared to take more far-reaching and, if necessary, system-changing measures in order to ensure that the financial market area stifles the entire financing of crime?

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the questioner for a very good question.

Just as some other questioners have pointed out, crime has been allowed to grow far too strong in our society. It has a grip on society on many different levels, and just as the questioner describes, the financial system is used to launder money, commit fraud, and make money. In this way, more crime, terror, and much more that in different ways harms people and societies, here and in other countries, is financed. This needs to be fought with force, and I therefore rule out no type of measure - just as the questioner is pointing out.

Let me underline that the banks in Sweden are profitable, partly thanks to technological development and use. I assume that the banks are working with full force and resources to counteract crime. It is also important that we get new and better rules in place, and here an intensive work is ongoing in the EU where, among others, Sweden is pushing for better information sharing between banks in order to be able to put a stop to this type of activity.

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

Robert Stenkvist (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Mats Persson.

Absolutely crucial for Swedish competitiveness and technological progress is that our natural science education maintains the highest quality. Over the last three decades, the quality of these educations has been systematically eroded by the fact that the costs for the educations have not kept pace with the price developments in society at large. These educations may have lost as much as 40 percent, according to a number of university deans. Combined with the fact that Sweden has the lowest proportion of teacher-led hours in Europe, this is extremely serious, especially since these educations are laboratory-intensive – or should be, at least. Sweden risks falling significantly behind regarding technological development, which in the long run risks our entire prosperity.

Does the Minister intend to take any measures against this serious development?

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

Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you to the questioner!

Sweden is a land of engineers; that is what has built our prosperity historically and what will do so moving forward. Therefore, in the budget that lies on the Riksdag's table, the government is making the largest investment in engineering subjects in modern times. For the first time in 15 years, the compensation to our educational institutions is being increased so that there will be more teacher-led hours for those studying a technical education. This could mean that those studying a biotechnology education get more laboratory opportunities, that those studying a technical education get more practice hours in mathematics, and so on. This is a strategic, structural reform that will make us all in Sweden wealthier and that will make our country a better country. Not least in light of the green transition and the great technological shift that is occurring right now, this is one of the more important investments in the budget that is to be decided upon shortly.

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

Jim Svensk Larm (S)

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

The government's management of adult education, particularly vocational adult education, is characterized by sudden cuts and short-sightedness. In the budget for 2023, they cut 1 billion from adult education, only to reintroduce some of the funds in the supplementary budget and the budget for 2024. Nevertheless, the appropriations for adult education are still half a billion lower than when the government took office.

The initiative on regional vocational adult education needs to continue with a focus on both increasing quality and creating more educational opportunities for adults.

We see the needs in the labor market growing, and most forecasters believe that unemployment will increase next year. In this situation, adult education, not least vocational adult education, plays an important role. Therefore, the Social Democrats are allocating 500 million more than the government on this in our budget proposal because we see the need.

What does the government intend to do to ensure that adult education can cope with a deteriorating labor market?

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

Utbildningsministern Mats Persson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you to the questioner!

I meet very many entrepreneurs who wonder where the competent workforce is? Where are those who can help in the industry? Where are those who can help in craft trades? Or if one talks to municipal representatives: Where are those who can work in healthcare and school? The shortage of competent workforce is incredibly large in our society right now.

I do not share the Social Democrats' view at all that the government is not doing enough and is cutting back on activities. It is exactly the opposite. Someone may have read about the shortage of train drivers and that one has not been able to train enough train drivers in Sweden. Why not? Yes, because previous Social Democratic governments have provided temporary funds, which has meant that one has not been able to expand that training. Now the government is adding permanent funds, 1.8 billion in the budget, which means that Sweden will get more train drivers, more battery technicians and more wind power technicians - for three professions where there is currently a shortage. We are therefore taking large steps to solve the skills shortage in Sweden.

Question time was hereby concluded.

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