Question Time

TREDJE VICE TALMANNEN

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.

I would therefore like to welcome the ministers. Questions today will be answered by Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister Anna Tenje, Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand, and Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin. Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard will answer both general policy questions as well as questions within her own area of responsibility.

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

Markus Selin (S)

Madam Speaker! Healthcare has a central role in our total defense. What does not work in peace will not work in war. The Defense Preparation Committee, with all parliamentary parties, has also expressed that it is urgent to rebuild our civil defense, where healthcare has a central role and urgently needs to build up our total defense against a possible armed attack.

Sweden is in a healthcare crisis. It is a crisis that is perhaps the worst since the 90s. At least 17 of 21 regions in Sweden are now planning cuts to our care. Sverigedemokraterna and the government have no intention of injecting any resources, and the situation is now acute.

Does the Minister for Civil Defence, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, answer that Sweden is better prepared for crisis and war with these cuts in healthcare here and now, when the staff are struggling to fulfill their mission?

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Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! The work in the Government Offices is distributed such that it is Minister Ankarberg Johansson who is responsible for preparedness issues in healthcare, but I will nevertheless give an overall answer.

I must begin by correcting Member Markus Selin on the claim that the government is not providing any resources. That is simply not true. We are allocating 40 percent of our reform space to general government grants to municipalities and regions, amounting to 16 billion kronor, in the budget for 2024.

In addition to that, we are making special resource reinforcements in the area of civil defense, both within expenditure area 6 and within the expenditure area that State Secretary Ankarberg Johansson is responsible for. We are allocating, among other things, special resources to be able to build up supply preparedness. It was such a supply preparedness that was lacking during the pandemic, which naturally had large and far-reaching consequences for healthcare.

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Markus Selin (S)

Madam Speaker! Too little, too late! The ongoing healthcare crisis strikes at perhaps the very most important thing we have in Sweden, namely the will to defend.

People in crisis or war expect opportunities for care and healing. Fewer would fully make their sacrifices for Sweden with the knowledge that our healthcare does not function. What initiatives does the Minister intend to take to strengthen Sweden's will to defend itself through healthcare?

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Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! I share Member Selin's assessment that much of this is too late, to the extent that it should have happened earlier. During the previous eight years, too little was done in this area.

We are now going further than what the 2020 defense decision provides for. We are investing additional funds in municipalities and regions targeted towards civil defense, in addition to the general resource reinforcements being made in the form of 16 billion in general state grants to municipalities and regions.

(Applause)

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Leonid Yurkovskiy (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard and concerns the proposal for a new gender identity law. It has received support from both the Minister for Social Services and the Minister for Equality, but it has also received extensive criticism from right to left, from doctors, psychologists, and authorities – the list goes on.

Madam Speaker! You may wonder what this has to do with immigration. Well, the proposal, in short, is that a person should easily be able to change their legal gender and with it the personal identity number. It is this that the Police Authority expresses concern over. Easy access to a new personal identity number, a new identity, is something that could be misused and facilitate criminals to, for example, escape the knowledge of the Police Authority or the Swedish Migration Agency.

We from the Sweden Democrats see a certain problem with that on the one hand, one seems to advocate for a paradigm shift in migration and crime policy, but on the other hand, creates a seemingly ill-considered tool that could clearly end up in the wrong hands.

Does the Minister share the Police Authority's concern, and how could the proposal affect the work at the Ministry?

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Statsrådet Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Leonid Yurkovskiy for the question.

Regarding the proposal on improved opportunities to change gender, the government has chosen not to proceed with the referral to the Council of Legislation because the government parties have different views on the issue. As I believe the member is aware, work is ongoing in the Committee on Social Affairs in the Riksdag. Therefore, I cannot account for any work that the government is doing because no work is taking place at the government.

I assume that the Riksdag weighs in on the issue of personal identity numbers in its legislative work. The question of personal identity numbers and population registration actually lies with the Minister for Finance, but I will, of course, answer as the person responsible for general policy. As stated, no work is being carried out at the Government Offices, and I therefore cannot answer the question.

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Leonid Yurkovskiy (SD)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the answer.

The reason I am asking the question is precisely because two ministers have gone out into the media and given their support to the proposal. I mean that there is a clear connection to the minister's area.

The proposal means in practice that legal gender reassignment is based on self-determination rather than a medical investigation or diagnosis. Is it the Minister's assessment that legal gender reassignment alone, based on the new law, could constitute grounds for protection reasons and in that way prevent the deportation of migrants who should not be here?

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Statsrådet Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)

Madam Speaker! There are many important aspects to the issue, and that is why it is so important to carry out thorough legislative work.

The question of whether circumstances in the individual case can affect whether there are grounds for protection or not becomes an individual assessment, and it is made by the authorities and by the courts.

If there is new legislation, we will follow it very closely.

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Samuel Gonzalez Westling (V)

Madam Speaker! Allow me to paraphrase the Minister for Civil Defence: There could be war in Sweden.

I do not primarily want to appeal to Carl-Oskar Bohlins fear, but rather to his perception of the situation. Societal resilience requires precisely an awareness of the situation, and right now Swedish healthcare is in crisis. Over 5,000 services across the country are threatened.

Region after region is sounding the alarm that there are insufficient resources to maintain healthcare at the level it was at previously. In my home region of Gävleborg, people wait for hours for the ambulance to arrive in emergencies. In times of war and crisis, as we all are aware, the pressure on healthcare is even higher than normal. If there is not a functioning healthcare system in peacetime, when it should be functioning optimally, how then will it function in times of war?

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Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! For the sake of the matter, let me begin in the same way as with the previous questioner, namely by stating that questions regarding the healthcare system's preparedness lie with Minister Ankarberg Johansson. I will nevertheless give a general answer to the question.

What can be stated is that healthcare under an armed attack, just as the questioner says, is faced with completely different demands. It also requires that we take measures - measures that have not been taken despite the fact that the security policy situation has deteriorated for a very long time.

What the government has done during the year includes, among other things, giving a mandate to Socialstyrelsen to procure a national trauma care stockpile in order to be able to handle a mass casualty event on Swedish territory. This is not something we can expect the regions to do within their ordinary operations. It is a responsibility that falls on the state. It is a responsibility that this government has taken on, which previous governments failed to complete.

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Samuel Gonzalez Westling (V)

Madam Speaker! That does not answer the question. When we have a healthcare system that does not function today, how can it function in times of war?

It was spoken of earlier that investments of a historic magnitude have been made. But in reality, one has only provided a third of what the regions have said they need in order to be able to maintain the already low level of healthcare that they had previously.

It simply isn't acceptable to talk about such things. No one has a mandate to sit around waiting for others, as the minister himself has said.

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Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! It is entirely correct as the questioner says.

We also need to remember that the primary responsibility for healthcare rests with the regions. I have not so far met any region that wants to hand that responsibility back to the state. The state has a responsibility to provide funds in the form of general government grants, which are also received. But we must not forget that at the bottom, the regions have responsibility for the operations and also the right of taxation if they perceive that the funds they have available are not sufficient.

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Martin Ådahl (C)

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

Madam Speaker! 71 kronor a day for an adult and 37-50 kronor for a child. That is what Ukrainian refugees are living on today in Sweden, for nearly two years now. It becomes 150 kronor a day for a mother with two children. Many cannot afford food for the day. I have met them who stand in the soup lines and hold their child in one hand, who cannot afford clothes and shoes. The Red Cross bears witness to exploitation and suicide attempts.

It is not worthy of our country that the Ukrainians fighting at the front are gnawed by worry for spouses, children, and parents in Sweden. Therefore, it is good that the government has finally initiated the population registration of our Ukrainian refugees. But it is a process that should have been initiated long ago and which takes far too long.

The organizations that work with the Ukrainian refugees and do an incredible job every day are here in the Riksdag today. Over 60 organizations from across the country are posing this question to you, the Minister, through me: Can you do everything, absolutely everything, to urgently raise the daily allowance now to levels such as those prevailing in Denmark and in our neighboring countries?

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Statsrådet Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for your question and a warm welcome to the Swedish Parliament, I say to the visitors!

I am incredibly happy to be able to say that within just a few weeks we will refer a completed bill. We have not just started the work, but it is a very extensive work that forms the basis for this.

The proposal does not only answer the very narrow question raised by the Centerpartiet in the Committee on Finance a few weeks ago regarding increasing the daily allowance. In addition to the fact that one enters the establishment and gives over 300 kronor a day in those cases, it answers all other needs that the Ukrainians in Sweden have expressed, namely the full possibility to participate in Arbetsförmedlingen's measures, full possibility to healthcare and the possibility to get BankID.

This is very important, and I am so glad that we can now also support this - in parallel with all the support that we are providing on the ground in Ukraine. Then we must not forget that there are many who are worried about the 5 million internal refugees who are there and who also need our support.

(Applause)

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Martin Ådahl (C)

Madam Speaker! You did not quite listen to the question that was asked.

The organizations say that the acute need is here and now. People do not have food for the day. This will take time; you know that too. You have also said that in the media.

Of course, we should also increase support for those who are in Ukraine. We in the Centre Party have also pushed for that. But now the question is directly to you as Minister, in front of the people who are currently suffering acute distress: Do you want to help during the time we wait for higher compensation via the population registry and give them higher compensation via the Riksdag as soon as possible, here and now?

(THIRD DEPUTY SPEAKER: I remind everyone that all speakers speak via the Speaker. This means that we do not address or speak directly to one another.)

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Statsrådet Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)

Madam Speaker! We are now working intensively to implement this change as quickly as possible. We will have an abbreviated referral process. We will submit the proposal to the Riksdag, and I sincerely hope for the cooperation of both the Center Party and the entire Riksdag to get this legislation in place as soon as possible. That is precisely what meets the needs of the Ukrainians.

The proposal that the Centerpartiet submitted in the Committee on Finance would require a completely new legislative process, and I assess that we do not have time for that.

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Katarina Luhr (MP)

Madam Speaker! In October, Minister Bohlin visited the oil-affected Natura 2000 area off the coast of Blekinge. After more than 150,000 liters of oil have ended up in the water, the municipality now has a gigantic job of trying to remediate the entire coastal area.

Last week, the oil cleanup could be resumed after a longer interruption due to the winter weather. Sölvesborg Municipality has had to build an entirely new organization around the oil cleanup, and the cost will likely amount to between 100 and 150 million kronor.

The Government works with crisis preparedness, which includes, among other things, preventive measures to prevent damage to our environment when accidents occur. There is today a large number of ships in traffic in the Baltic Sea that have exemptions to carry the same type of oil. The risk therefore exists that the same thing could happen again.

I therefore want to ask Minister Bohlin if he and his department are working on any new preventive measures so that something similar cannot happen again.

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Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! What type of oil can be used for ship propulsion is not a question that falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence, but we all naturally have a responsibility to work to ensure that what happened in Pukavik Bay is not repeated.

We intend to soon give MSB a mandate to evaluate this incident together with a number of other crises that have occurred recently to see what conclusions we can draw from the operational crisis management work so that this is not repeated.

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Katarina Luhr (MP)

Madam Speaker! Sölvesborg Municipality is working today to clean the beaches of oil. But there is a large number of authorities that have designated responsibility for oil spills, including the Minister's own agency MSB but also the Coast Guard, the County Administrative Boards, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and HaV.

Therefore, I would like to append to the answer and ask the Minister if, after the catastrophe in Blekinge, he is satisfied with how the handling of the oil catastrophe has functioned or if he could already at the current stage say anything about the improvement of future organization.

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Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! Yes, I had the opportunity to visit the scene of the accident quite soon after the accident had occurred.

What can be observed at an initial stage is, in any case, that all actors in the system have been very alert. MSB has been able to quickly provide reinforcement resources. The Coast Guard has reprioritized and redistributed resources to be able to participate in the management of the wreck but also to help with oil cleanup.

In the large sense, I think that the effort has worked, but the final evaluation must show which areas for improvement exist.

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Magnus Resare (M)

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

We have for some time been able to read about some of the problems that Ukrainians face when they lack a personal identity number. I have understood that the intention is that this is to be resolved.

My question is therefore what the work looks like in terms of solving this problem.

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Statsrådet Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Magnus Resare for the question. I am very pleased that it is being raised again, because I can say that within just a few weeks we will send out a completed bill for consultation. We are shortening the consultation period so that it can enter into force as soon as possible. This means that population registration applies to those who have been here for a year and who are also judged to be going to be here for a time ahead.

With the population registration, a number of opportunities open up. It is about full efforts from Arbetsförmedlingen, the possibility of an internship as well as the possibility of getting a BankID and receiving health and medical care, which is incredibly important, but also, which is desirable, an increased compensation. Those who do not yet work enter the establishment and then receive over 300 kronor per day, which is indeed a significant improvement. For those who work, which very many fortunately do, the parental insurance also begins to apply, which we are convinced will facilitate life here in Sweden.

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Magnus Resare (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer! This sounds very hopeful and very good.

Another current issue right now is the EU's migration pact. I thought I would take the opportunity to ask how the work is progressing with that and how it will affect Sweden.

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Statsrådet Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)

Madam Speaker! Another incredibly important issue! It is highly topical, because today the vote on nine legal acts – the entire package – takes place in Coreper.

Pleasantly enough, the Swedish government stands behind the proposal that has been negotiated. Many of the truly difficult files were addressed during the Swedish presidency and look in all essential respects the same. We are very pleased about this. It means that we get much better control at the EU's external border, and it strengthens our security but also our ability to help those who have the absolute greatest need of protection.

(Applause)

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Ingemar Kihlström (KD)

Madam Speaker! I would like to direct my question to Minister for Pensions and Social Insurance Anna Tenje.

We need a sickness insurance system where people's opportunities are taken into account. It is important that the sickness insurance system provides incentives that take advantage of each person's capacity and offers different paths back to work. The individual's ability to work shall be emphasized, and therefore a greater opportunity for flexibility is needed.

Today, a person who is working and receiving compensation of 50 percent cannot increase their work effort by 10 percent, even if it would be possible according to a doctor. Today's fixed steps in the sickness insurance - 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent - should therefore be changed. Today's system does not accommodate the individual's full capacity and possibility for an increased work effort.

We Christian Democrats advocate for greater flexibility through a personalized percentage without fixed steps. My question is therefore how the Minister views the possibility of a change that makes the sickness insurance system more flexible and also step-free. That is how it looks in, for example, Norway.

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Madam Speaker! The question that Ingemar Kihlström poses is very interesting. It takes its starting point in that everyone who can work shall work, regardless of whether one has reduced work capacity, and that one can then progressively work more in step with regaining work capacity.

An investigation has submitted the investigation report A health insurance with prevention, rehabilitation and security, where proposals are made to make the so-called rehabilitation allowance and prevention allowance step-free and not the sickness benefit. Regardless of what one talks about, it can still be associated with a lot of difficulties when it comes to Försäkringskassan's possibilities to make assessments. Today, it is 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100 that is the assessment. It becomes very complicated if one is to go into 22 or 27.5 and so on. That is where the bureaucracy and administration come in - it would probably complicate both for the individual to return to work and for Försäkringskassan to make this type of assessment as it is a major boundary-setting issue.

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Ingemar Kihlström (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer, even if it did not fully meet my expectations. One can observe that Norway succeeds in administering a completely seamless change.

I see a strength in a flexible system, as it would also meet the needs of those who have lost a loved one and who, due to grief, need to be on sick leave. It could give them an increased opportunity to return to work gradually. I hope that we can continue to reason and that we can find ways that can take us past any administrative hurdles.

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Madam Speaker! It is always an enormous tragedy to lose someone close. Processing that grief is healthy and important. The right to leave of absence in the event of a death is regulated by law, and it is also something that collective agreements often prescribe. It is usually about ten days of leave. It has not come to my knowledge that there would be any problem, no major problems in any case, in our society when it comes to the possibilities for companies and individuals to reach an agreement. I see great opportunities here for employers to be both flexible and accommodating.

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Mauricio Rojas (L)

Madam Speaker! There is one country that stands out in the migration statistics, namely Uzbekistan. In January 2024, Uzbeks constituted the largest group of asylum seekers. At the same time, it can be noted that over 90 percent of the Uzbeks' asylum applications are rejected. In 2023, Uzbeks were the largest group of illegal immigrants encountered during workplace inspections.

In other words, it is about illegal labor migrants who seek asylum as a way to extend their stay in Sweden. Therefore, I want to ask the Minister for Migration what measures have been taken or are planned to put a stop to this abuse of our asylum system.

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Statsrådet Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Mauricio Rojas for this very pressing question. It is true that Uzbeks constitute a very large proportion of the asylum seekers, that the approval rate is very low, and that Sweden, compared to other EU countries, has a very large number of asylum seekers.

This is something that we work a lot with. Above all, I want to emphasize the diplomatic work that is taking place. My State Secretary was recently in Uzbekistan to discuss this. We also have a very intensive effort to counter the exploitation of people by ruthless employers. The work that the centers against labor crime carry out, where several authorities work jointly to counter this, is absolutely crucial.

We are therefore working both with governing the authorities and with tightening the legislation, but also – which is very important – with diplomacy to prevent this.

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Mauricio Rojas (L)

Madam Speaker! What concerns the Uzbeks is not an exception. There are many other nationalities that stand out for having a very high rejection rate within the Swedish Migration Agency - 70-80 percent usually. This is, therefore, a very important issue.

I agree with the Minister's will to counter illegal immigration and those who are behind it.

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Statsrådet Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)

Madam Speaker! I can only agree on the importance of this work. We are working broadly now. We are establishing a new reception system where we have a reception center where everyone shall live instead of in their own accommodation. There we get better control over who stays here and over that they do not deviate. If one receives a no, which three out of four do today, one shall move to a return center.

This has already begun to be established, and we are actually already seeing results where lead times are shortened. This sends important signals that those who do not have grounds for protection will be returned quickly. It also becomes more humane, as we shorten the processing times.

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Jessica Rodén (S)

Madam Speaker! Reports are currently pouring in about how difficult it is for Swedish households to manage increased rents, high interest costs, and rising food prices. The group that perhaps has it the toughest are those who live on sickness and activity benefits.

High-income earners received a tax cut at the turn of the year. Those who receive sickness and activity compensation did not. The motive from the government's side against a tax cut for this group was that it would be inflation-driving. It is not without wonder why it is never inflation-driving when high-income earners are to receive tax reliefs, while it is always inflation-driving when people in a vulnerable economic situation are to receive a tax relief.

Against the background of the vulnerable economic situation for many who live on sickness and activity compensation, I would like to ask Minister Anna Tenje what the government intends to do to improve the economic security for these individuals.

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for the question.

I can state that most grants that are not indexed with income were instead indexed with the previous year's price base amount, which was increased by 8.6 percent. For the current year, they were indexed by 9.14 percent.

It is therefore a major reinforcement for many of the households that are having it extra tough right now, not to mention that also the extra housing supplements for specifically child families are a significant reinforcement for those child families who are having it the toughest.

Otherwise, the most important effort is to fight inflation and in that way strengthen households by ensuring that inflation does not continue to erode the households' wallets. It is a strategy that we see has been very successful. Hopefully, we see the light at the end of the tunnel and can emerge from the economic crisis.

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Sara-Lena Bjälkö (SD)

Madam Speaker! The Sweden Democrats have on several occasions touched upon the slow reconstruction of the total defense. The previous Social Democratic government often spoke about the great transition in 2015, and we see the receipt for this today. MSB and the Armed Forces state that the capability is not where it should be. It has been nearly ten years since the work began. Low priority, no follow-ups, not interesting.

Defense policy and the security of citizens is a Social Democratic special interest. The results speak for themselves. The current government must not follow in the Social Democrats' footsteps. The Sweden Democrats are and will continue to be a credible partner in defense policy, but we will also demand a continued high pace.

In light of what I have mentioned, I wonder what further initiatives Minister Bohlin will take to increase the civil defense's resilience in the short term.

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Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! Unfortunately, I have only been allocated one minute to provide this exhaustive answer.

Since we took office and during the current year, we are therefore undertaking on the order of eighty measures to strengthen civil defense. This includes, among other things, a faster activation of civil service than what was established in the defense decision, an increased level of ambition when it comes to protecting the civilian population with the special shelter initiative found in this year's budget, and additional funds to municipalities, county administrative boards, and other actors in the system to accelerate this work.

Let me say that it is now becoming very important how the collective Defense Commission lands on these issues, because it constitutes the input for the defense decision that the government has chosen to move forward just because the issues are so pressing. It is my great hope that we, in broad agreement even in the Defense Commission, can land on the need to strengthen the total defense and thereby the civil defense.

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Nadja Awad (V)

Madam Speaker! "Who will take care of mom?" "Swedish elderly care is in crisis and it will become tougher ahead." These are headlines and quotes from Dagens Nyheter.

According to Dagens Nyheter's municipal survey specifically concerning home care, the staff shortage is so serious that elderly people have their visits postponed or canceled. The employees are forced to work a lot of overtime. Municipalities have difficulty finding staff at all, while others have difficulty finding the right competence.

The government has obviously distributed too few state grants to the regions and municipalities during 2023. The same applies for 2024. This is stated by SKR and the unions. The municipalities cannot even utilize the Elderly Care Boost, as they cannot release staff for training due to staff shortages.

Many are now wondering why the government and the Minister for Seniors are passive and absent while the crisis continues. My question is: Will the government take its statutory funding responsibility for the municipalities and provide them with increased state grants to save elderly care?

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question.

We can begin by stating that it is a difficult economic situation both in our municipalities and in our regions. It is noticeable in the state, it is noticeable in the municipalities, and it is noticeable above all in the households.

That is exactly why it is very important to prioritize, and just as we have touched upon earlier here today, that is precisely why we allocated 60 percent of the reform space that existed in the budget for 2024 to welfare. In addition to equipping the defense and the police with more money, we chose to prioritize welfare. It was 16 billion, most of which were furthermore in general government grants that went specifically to the municipalities and the regions.

We also have a continuation of the Elderly Care Boost (Äldreomsorgslyftet) which in turn will lead to us being able to continue to strengthen Swedish elderly care by increasing competence within these important areas.

(Applause)

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Emelie Nyman (C)

Madam Speaker! Labor immigration is absolutely necessary for Sweden and Swedish competitiveness. The recent debate regarding labor immigration has shown that there is an incredibly great concern in the business community, a concern that the government will more or less stifle the opportunities for labor immigration.

Centerpartiet is convinced that the companies themselves know best what competence they need, while other parties want to see a labor market test. Therefore, I want to ask Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard how the government views the issue of labor market testing.

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Statsrådet Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Emelie Nyman for a very important question. Labor migration is and will be completely crucial for Sweden's ability to compete in an increasingly tougher global market ahead.

That is why I am so glad that the Swedish Migration Agency has just launched a completely new model where those who come here and are highly qualified are guaranteed a decision within 30 days from a complete application. This is very important in order to compete for the very best talents.

We are now raising the salary requirement to come here and work from 13,000 to over 27,000 kronor per month. We did that on November 1. The idea is to shift the focus from a large proportion of low-skilled labor immigration to a higher proportion of qualified and highly qualified.

At the same time, an investigation is underway which is about to be submitted and which involves looking at an even higher wage requirement with the possibility of exceptions. But we do not want to return to the old model where the unions effectively had a veto, but it is the employers who shall decide in large part.

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Emma Ahlström Köster (M)

Madam Speaker! Culture can be a source of joy, meaning and a sense of belonging and a way to link generations, to express oneself or to achieve different states of mind.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to listen to the Minister for Culture's opening speech at the cultural policy convention Folk och Kultur, which takes place in Eskilstuna this weekend. There, the Minister specifically highlighted the cultural canon as a way to educate and invite more people into the cultural community. The Minister also highlighted a number of other things, for example, the opportunities and challenges that culture faces but can also contribute to.

I therefore wonder if the Minister for Culture can elaborate on the reasoning behind why she chooses to prioritize and highlight the cultural canon as an important initiative within culture and education for Sweden in the near term.

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for the question.

The cultural canon has even been debated before we presented the directives. That pleases me, I must say, because the whole point of a cultural canon is not just to enable more people to take part in the cultural community and step into rooms that would otherwise remain closed and to contribute to social cohesion, education, and inclusion. A cultural canon is not just a finished product, but the very work of developing the canon should be precisely inclusive and permissive.

That is why I am extra happy when a debate is already underway before we have presented the directives. We presented the directives in a hurry, and since then the debate has heated up. I really hope that as many as possible take the chance to participate in the debate and share their views on the educational journey that a canon will constitute.

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Gudrun Brunegård (KD)

Madam Speaker! Of all the food we eat, approximately half comes from Swedish farms. In the event of a large-scale crisis or a war, there is a great risk that it will be made difficult for the remaining half to reach the country and, in the worst case, that food imports will be completely interrupted.

The Swedish Board of Agriculture was awarded 20 million kronor in December to develop proposals for measures that strengthen Sweden's civil preparedness within food production. Lantmännen estimates the costs of maintaining food preparedness to be in the billions.

My question to Civil Defence Minister Bohlin is then: In what way are farmers involved in the work of strengthening Sweden's preparedness, and what financial support will they receive?

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Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Gudrun Brunegård, for the question! This is a question that falls under the responsibility of Minister Peter Kullgren, who is responsible for preparedness issues in the food sector.

What can be said is that an investigation has just arrived and has now landed on Minister Kullgren's desk. There, a number of proposals are presented to strengthen the Swedish food preparedness. It is quite clear that this is a very important sub-component of the overall Swedish supply preparedness, which this government is now taking steps to rebuild. This was something that was completely phased out in connection with the decommissioning of the civil defense. We see that we need to take measures and steps to increase, among other things, the Swedish food preparedness, and it is a task that is being carried out in the Government Offices.

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Per-Arne Håkansson (S)

Madam Speaker! Jewish life in Sweden is, unfortunately, being subjected to great pressures. In recent days, we have been reached by reports that Jewish representatives in our country have been mapped out and identified as murder victims by foreign agents.

For my part, I have visited synagogues, schools, and community centers both here in Stockholm and in my home region of Skåne, most recently Helsingborg. Jewish and Swedish citizens have there described their situation. And security arrangements are organized for every small gathering that is to be held.

I welcome that efforts seem to be underway following the investigation into a national strategy to strengthen Jewish life in Sweden that the previous Social Democratic government commissioned. This was done to long-term safeguard the opportunities and conditions for Jewish life in Sweden. I also note that the Swedish Committee against Antisemitism describes the general threat situation that exists right now.

Based on this, I would like to ask Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand whether, from the perspective of minority policy, there is readiness for further measures to long-term safeguard the conditions for Jewish life in Sweden.

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for raising such an important issue. Yes, to promote Jewish life in Sweden and enable Jews to have a free and secure life in Sweden is one of this government's highly prioritized tasks.

The Prime Minister has, in his government statements – both the first and the latest – highlighted this as a special priority. It is also based on this that the government has taken action regarding enabling a free Jewish life in Sweden.

We have, among other things, allocated more funds so that security around Jewish schools, synagogues, and Jewish organizations can be improved. We have introduced a number of measures that the Jewish community and the organizations themselves have identified as important. Among other things, there is an interdepartmental working group within the Government Offices to gather these issues and to be able to handle them in a good way.

I have also very recently received a report concerning the strengthening of Jewish life. We will, of course, continue to work on this within the Government Offices.

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Mikael Eskilandersson (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question concerns the construction and repair readiness, which has existed in Sweden and was the civil construction industry's readiness organization. In principle, almost all large construction companies were part of the readiness organization.

Sweden needs a preparedness in this area, especially now when there is war in Europe and when the security situation has drastically changed compared to 2007, when the preparedness was abolished. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, MSB, has also pointed out the need for a modern version of the former building and repair preparedness.

I would like to ask Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin: What is the Minister for Civil Defence's position on creating a new modern construction and repair readiness?

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Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Mikael Eskilandersson, for a very pertinent question! This is one of the questions addressed in the defense preparedness report that was submitted shortly before Christmas and which the government is now working to revise. In parallel with this, the government has commissioned an inquiry that looks at the entire upcoming personnel supply need in the civil parts of the total defense during high alert. And this is, of course, an important sub-component to consider in that regard.

The experience from Ukraine shows us that a greater robustness in terms of repair readiness is required, and it is one of the issues that we are currently working to address.

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Christofer Bergenblock (C)

Madam Speaker! Once again, it has been shown that Försäkringskassan has major problems with the handling of cases regarding personal assistance. On January 3, the Parliamentary Ombudsman directed stinging criticism at their handling of control cases. They wrote that it appears as if the authority is withholding documentation and seems to be acting in secrecy.

This is, of course, an extremely sharp criticism of a state authority that handles cases concerning people who are already in a vulnerable situation.

I submitted a written question to Minister Anna Tenje regarding this the other day but unfortunately received no clear answer in return. Therefore, I am now giving the Minister a new opportunity to answer the question: What measures does the Minister intend to take to ensure that Försäkringskassan works in a legally secure manner regarding personal assistance - against the background of the stinging criticism that JO has directed at Försäkringskassan?

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Madam Speaker! Many thanks for the question, member! It is clear that this is a very pressing issue, especially when it concerns the solid work that the government is carrying out when it comes to fraud and incorrect payments. Many controls are being performed, and a great deal of work is being done by our authorities in this matter.

The question that the member is raising here and now, I am following closely. Of course, I intend to return to the question a bit further ahead when I have received a bit more information regarding the matter.

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Thomas Ragnarsson (M)

Madam Speaker! I would like to ask a question to Minister Anna Tenje. Dementia is a medical condition that is growing in our society. We see more and more people being affected. We also see that the onset of the disease is increasing in younger age groups. The disease does not only affect the person affected, but it also hits relatives hard. One sometimes hears the term relative's illness.

In recent years, the medical advances have been significant both in terms of slowing the progression of the disease and in terms of finding medicines that could prevent dementia. Therefore, continued investments in this area are of the utmost importance.

My question to the Minister is: How does the Minister view these issues, and how can we strengthen dementia care?

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for this very pressing issue. Just as the member points out, today there are approximately 150,000 who live with some form of dementia diagnosis, and every year 25,000 people receive a diagnosis.

Now, the fact is that we are living longer and becoming older, which means that more and more people are also developing some form of dementia. Diagnoses are also being made earlier and earlier. That is exactly why I am very happy that we have now addressed the dementia strategy that is lying there and are going to revise it. We are going to work more preventatively and promotively and, not least, meet the ever-increasing number of people who receive a diagnosis earlier and earlier.

We will also enable and ensure that we follow the research, where Sweden is truly at the forefront and leading the way, so that that knowledge and information reaches those who need it the most. It is about our skilled employees out in our regions and municipalities - and not least about the people affected by dementia and their relatives.

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Zara Leghissa (S)

Madam Speaker! The Commission has presented a proposal for a talent reserve within the EU to attract low, medium, and high-skilled competence from third countries. At the same time, we know that workers from third countries are a risk group when it comes to labor exploitation.

I therefore want to ask Minister Malmer Stenergard: How does the Minister intend to act to ensure that the use of labor from third countries is minimized?

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Statsrådet Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Zara Leghissa for the question. This is extremely important. Unfortunately, we see that far too many are exploited by unscrupulous employers. The Government is now taking a number of measures to rectify this, and it is work that must also be elevated at the EU level so that the entire perspective is included in this important work.

The government is now, as mentioned, implementing a number of measures to curb this and prevent human suffering. To mention something in my area, we have finally raised the salary requirement for coming here from third countries to work. Previously, the requirement was only 13,000, which risked leading to people being exploited. We also focus heavily on the work with workplace inspections, and in that regard, the centers against labor crime are extremely important as many authorities cooperate there and share expertise with one another.

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Clara Aranda (SD)

Madam Speaker! The Inspectorate for Social Insurance, in its review of the close relative allowance, has reported a number of deficiencies. For example, it is complicated to apply for the benefit and problematic for Försäkringskassan to process it. Furthermore, the scope of the benefit's use is unclear. In addition, there are difficulties with the assessment in certain cases, for example in the case of mental illness, because it becomes more difficult to assess whether there is a tangible threat to life, which is a requirement to receive the close relative allowance.

The authority therefore recommends that the government carry out a review of the benefit, and for that reason, I would like to ask Minister Anna Tenje how the minister views the need for a review in order to be able to work towards a more purposeful and flexible use of the proximity allowance.

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question from Clara Aranda. I naturally share the view that it is important that there are good opportunities for relatives to care for seriously ill family members.

Just as the member says, ISF has now reviewed the survivor's pension, and that review shows that the vast majority of those who apply for survivor's pension also receive survivor's pension. That said, it does not have to be easy to apply for the survivor's pension, and there are more things to do there.

Pleasantly enough, Försäkringskassan has followed the review and informs that they are now looking into reviewing the application process to simplify it. It should simply become easier for the applicant to access this. They also point out that it is important to spread information and increase knowledge about the benefit, so that it reaches more people who are in need of it.

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Alexandra Anstrell (M)

Madam Speaker! I have a question for the Minister for Civil Defence, Carl-Oskar Bohlin. It concerns cybersecurity. It has been shown in recent months that we may not have had adequate security regarding this in a number of operations. There is also a lack of enough people who have really good competence in these matters, and it may be something that we can see becoming worse in the future.

My questions are therefore: What measures does the government intend to take to strengthen cybersecurity in Sweden? Is the minister cooperating with the Minister for Education to build more competencies better in the future?

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Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Alexandra Anstrell, for a very pertinent question! It is unfortunately the case that Sweden has fallen in cybersecurity rankings over a long series of years. Harsh criticism has been directed from the National Audit Office regarding the work that was carried out in this area during the years 2017-2022.

What the government is doing now is taking a holistic approach to building an ecosystem to increase cybersecurity. To connect to what the member asked about, the government inaugurated the new cybercampus yesterday, which has been made possible thanks to a joint initiative from, among others, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education. The undersigned and the Minister for Education were therefore able to participate in the inauguration yesterday. This illustrates one part of this, namely the need for new competence supply in the area.

Additionally, we are now working on a new national cybersecurity strategy, reshaping the national cybersecurity center and investing more money in the incident management mechanism that currently lies with MSB, while we work to rebuild the national cybersecurity center.

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Jamal El-Haj (S)

Madam Speaker! On January 3 and 4, a terrible chaos occurred on the E22 in Skåne where over a thousand cars with drivers and passengers were stuck due to severe winter weather. Part of the reason for the chaos was that the winter road maintenance did not function sufficiently well.

We know that the state transport authorities have been subjected to a harsh corporatization, deregulation, and marketization where knowledge, experience, and equipment have disappeared. I would like to ask the Minister for Civil Defence how he views the preparedness effects of the harsh corporatization and deregulation that has occurred in the transport sector. Does Carl-Oskar Bohlin also see the connection I describe?

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Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! The conclusion that can be drawn above all from the events on the E22 is that too many agencies bickered over who should take responsibility in a sharp situation. I believe this is partly characterized by a culture of passivity that we do not want to see in our Swedish administrative authorities at all.

With this in mind, I summoned the authorities involved in the handling of the incidents at road E22 and clarified that in current situations, they are expected to take the mandate they are assigned according to current legislation. I thus clarified that we do not want to see an order where authorities pass the responsibility around like a hot potato when it comes to questions such as who has the authority to cut open a wire fence, for example.

I believe the question has been settled by the relevant authorities; since then, we have seen new snowstorms that were managed in a significantly better way.

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Nima Gholam Ali Pour (SD)

Madam Speaker! Sveriges Radio reported on Tuesday that the regime in Iran is suspected of having planned murders of Swedish Jews. Two secret agents linked to Iran's intelligence service allegedly mapped out three intended murder victims in Sweden in 2021.

That the regime in Iran engages in terrorism is a known fact. Despite this, there are mosques in Sweden that have close links to the regime and which in practice function as the regime's spy centers. These mosques' imams are sent out by the regime and can stay in Sweden by being granted residence permits based on work.

My question to the Minister for Migration is the following: Does the Minister consider it reasonable that persons sent on missions by a regime that plans terrorist acts in Sweden should be granted residence permits as labor migrants?

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Statsrådet Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the question, which was perhaps somewhat leading.

It is extremely serious that a state actor is planning a murder of Swedish citizens in Sweden. I feel particularly for Sweden's Jews, where it tears open wounds in an already very tough situation. We know that countries like Iran conduct various types of illegal intelligence activities in and against Sweden, and it is very serious but unfortunately no news to us.

And speaking of the member's question: This is about being able to detect these individuals to ensure that they do not receive residence permits on incorrect grounds. In October, we presented directives to an investigation looking at how the rules on burden of proof and requirements for evidence regarding identity can be tightened in the asylum process. There will also be a new legislative change coming into force on March 1, which means that it should be possible to revoke residence permits in more cases, and we are generally working on revoking residence permits in more cases from the Migration Agency's side. I also want to emphasize the importance of cooperation with Säpo.

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Carl Nordblom (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand.

The National Audit Office has presented an analysis of the management, governance, and follow-up of the Sami Parliament. The assignment included also assessing whether the Sami Parliament fulfills its mandate and how the authority uses its resources. The analysis shows that the Sami Parliament's management, governance, and follow-up are not purposeful and that the Sami Parliament does not meet its operational requirements. Furthermore, it is very difficult to assess the authority's results.

My question is therefore: What measures is the government taking in view of the deficiencies that have emerged regarding the Sami Parliament, including in the Swedish National Audit Office's report?

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, member, for the question! I want to begin by pointing out that it was this government that in March gave the Government Offices the assignment to review the Sami Parliament because we saw that there were challenges and deficiencies. They became clear to us quite early.

It is important to emphasize that the Sami Parliament specifically has a more independent role than other Swedish authorities have. It is the Sami Parliament's elected plenum that appoints the board, and thus a heavy responsibility also falls back on the Sami Parliament to rectify these deficiencies.

Parallel to the Sami Parliament doing its job in this and the fact that we have now also received this report, a number of things are also occurring within the framework of the ministry and within the government. Among other things, I am meeting the chairman of the Sami Parliament's board next week. We have also taken measures within the framework of the agency's regulatory letter and are preparing various proposals linked to the National Audit Office's report.

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Mikael Dahlqvist (S)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Pensions Anna Tenje.

Unfortunately, we are contacted at regular intervals with reports of neglect and other irregularities, often with unscrupulous employers, within elderly care. Most recently, it was a municipality in Dalarna that was affected. There, the staff reported serious irregularities. These residential homes already had a full history of Ivor reports against them.

Legislation was introduced a number of years ago called lex Sarah, which means that staff shall have greater opportunities to report irregularities within health and social care. My question to the Minister for Elderly Care is therefore the following: Does the government intend to tighten the regulatory framework so that irregularities are prevented and detected more quickly in the future?

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Madam Speaker! Many thanks, the member, for a very pressing question!

I can begin by stating that I have zero tolerance for unserious actors and the type of activity that the member describes, regardless of whether it concerns independent actors or municipal actors who provide care in their own capacity.

I and Acko Ankarberg Johansson have, from the government's side, recently tasked Ivo with clarifying, tightening, and improving the work towards unserious actors and following up on the supervision and the licensing requirement for them. This is an important task and a step in ensuring that this part of the welfare, just like all others, is managed in the best way possible. Every tax krona shall go to those the means are intended for and furthermore strengthen the quality.

This is a very important issue for me and something that I prioritize.

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Carita Boulwén (SD)

Madam Speaker! The proposal for a new gender identity law, which in practice would mean that it is free for each individual to determine and easily change their legal gender without medical investigation or diagnosis, means that women may need to compete against biological men in sports to a greater extent. We have seen several international examples of how women's sports-related work, which they may have dedicated their entire lives to, has been neglected as a result of completely unfair competitive conditions created precisely through such political ambitions.

One example is Lia Thomas, who became historic as the first trans woman to win a collegiate swimming championship in the USA. Thomas, who began gender reassignment in 2019, was allowed to compete as a woman in 2020. There are many more examples.

Several ministers have expressed support for the committee initiative in the media, which leads to the government's position being perceived as positive towards the proposal. My question is therefore: How does the Minister for Culture view the sports movement's conditions for fair sports participation with regard to a new gender identity law?

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Madam Speaker! I must refer the question further to my colleague Jakob Forssmed, who is the one who handles sports issues. They have previously been under the Ministry of Culture but no longer are. The one who should answer the question is probably Minister Forssmed.

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Caroline Högström (M)

Madam Speaker! The parental leave system turns 50 years old this year. It replaced the maternity insurance, which was aimed exclusively at mothers. With the parental leave system, which is aimed at everyone, we began the work towards a more equal uptake and a more equal parenthood.

Sweden has, thanks to the parental leave, some of the world's highest labor force participation among women, but we see some continued challenges.

Fifty years ago, in 1974, 0.5 percent of fathers took parental leave. In 2022, the figure was 30 percent. We thus still have some challenges, one could say. We also see continued differences in pension and income between women and men.

My question to Social Insurance Minister Anna Tenje is: How does the government plan to strengthen women's finances and pensions?

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for a very pertinent question! Not least the fact that the parental insurance is turning 50 makes the issue topical.

But one can still state that the best way to improve women's finances and tackle this issue - I agree that it can be a problem given that women have worked less, been at home more and also perhaps taken a larger share of the parental leave - is the work principle. If more women had worked as much, as long, and for the same pay as the men, the pension gap would also have been non-existent and the pensions would have been equal.

It is moving forward slowly, but it is moving forward nonetheless, and as women work more and have a more equal working life, the pensions will also become more equal in the long run. But here, I believe we can do a lot. We share the interest with many: employers, industry organizations and, above all, our responsible authorities. Together with ourselves, they have a great responsibility to ensure that the knowledge exists, so that wise decisions can be made.

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Ulrika Heindorff (M)

Madam Speaker! Last week, the Minister and I, Anna Tenje, were visiting Helsingborg. We visited the completely unique residential facility Sällbo, which both prevents involuntary loneliness and works across generations. We also visited the nursing home Furillen, where we, among other things, heard about how Helsingborg is at the forefront of making the city's housing dementia-friendly.

Competent staff is a key to good dementia care. My question to Minister Anna Tenje is therefore: What is the government doing within the dementia area and within the competence supply to facilitate all the good work being done in the country's municipalities?

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Madam Speaker! Many thanks, Ulrika Heindorff, for the question! It is extra pleasing that two members during today's question period have asked questions about dementia care, which is very close to my heart.

It was a very good visit to Helsingborg last week. This is a municipality that is truly at the forefront both when it comes to investing in skills supply and when it comes to ensuring that the knowledge that now exists within the dementia field reaches those who need it most, that is, the employees, the individuals themselves, and the relatives.

During the recent period, we have made major investments in dementia care. We have ensured that Svenskt Demenscentrum has received an increase in its grant of 3 million. We have also approved that three projects they manage receive 5 million. Furthermore, we have ensured that Nationellt kompetenscentrum anhöriga receives an additional 3 million kronor to strengthen the initiative for relatives in connection with dementia care. We have also ensured that the Svedem and BPSD registers – the large quality registers – receive more money, so that they can connect more municipalities and so that the municipalities receive more methods to maintain high quality.

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Malin Höglund (M)

Madam Speaker! My question also goes to Minister for Pensions and Social Insurance Anna Tenje.

During the last hundred years, much has happened within Swedish elderly care. The view of what constitutes elderly care has changed, as has the training of the staff. Thank goodness we have replaced the previous long-term care with special housing for the elderly. There, there is an opportunity for community, if one wishes, during and outside of meals.

We are getting more and more elderly people in Sweden who have needs, while at the same time there is a shortage of staff within home care and in special housing for the elderly. The investment that has been made in Äldreomsorgslyftet has been appreciated by the municipalities. We need to train more nursing assistants who, together with nurses and care assistants, do a great job.

Question Time

The initiative that the government is now making to extend and develop Äldreomsorgslyftet is good. My question to Minister Anna Tenje is: What does Äldreomsorgslyftet mean for Dalarna's 15 municipalities and for Mora, which is my home municipality?

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Madam Speaker! It is a matter of being popular here at the end of the question period - it is very much appreciated!

The elderly care boost has been very appreciated. It is one of the few targeted state grants that our municipal representatives have actually requested, which the government has complied with. It concerns 1.7 billion annually for three years. For Dalarna, it concerns approximately 58 million for all municipalities. For Mora, it amounts to 4.5 million. This increases the possibilities for Mora municipality to invest in competence supply and in competence development so that more nursing assistants can become practical nurses and so that more practical nurses can study some form of specialist education, perhaps regarding dementia, welfare technology, somatics or multi-morbidity. This has an enormous value.

Question Time

Above all, we are now developing Äldreomsorgslyftet so that the money can also be invested in strengthening minority languages. I believe this will be important for the administrative municipalities Borlänge and Älvdalen, because more people can then receive elderly care in their minority language.

Question time was hereby concluded.

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