Question Time

ANDRE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions will be answered today by Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren, Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson, Minister Erik Slottner, 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. Rural Affairs Minister Peter Kullgren answers both general political questions and questions within his own area of responsibility.

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Gunilla Carlsson (S)

Madam Speaker! Today is the day of the year's poorest. Rents continue to rise, food prices have increased by almost 30 percent over the last three years, and ten years of real wage increases have been erased. Many turn over every single krona to make everyday life work.

On this year's poorest day, I want to remind that with a Social Democratic government, ordinary people would have received a fair tax cut that hits broader than the government's tax cuts. Pensioners would have received an increased housing supplement of 200 kronor per month, and the housing allowance for those families with children who have it the toughest would have been increased by almost 800 kronor a month until the summer and thereafter by over 2,000 kronor.

My question today is addressed to Minister Kullgren, who answers general policy questions. Why is it important for the SD-led government to lower taxes for the wealthy while many families with children and pensioners struggle to make ends meet?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Madam Speaker! That we have succeeded in cracking inflation is central to the development. We see now that interest rates are being lowered bit by bit, which is extremely important. Unfortunately, we can state that we are still in a difficult economic time with a recession. But it is brightening, and we naturally hope that it will brighten quickly.

The government is making broad tax cuts that mean people get more money in their pockets - important contributions to managing even this year's poorest day.

I can come back with a counter-question. If I remember correctly, a family in Stockholm under Social Democratic rule has had increased costs of 6,000 kronor. How does that help the families with children in Stockholm?

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Gunilla Carlsson (S)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer!

I perceive that this government does not want to understand at all how many people in our country are currently struggling.

According to SCB's statistics, we see in black and white that material and social poverty is increasing. Why does the SD-led government choose, in this situation, to remove the support that has existed and which is aimed at the families who have it the toughest? At the same time as the minister himself receives several thousand kronor more per month in tax cuts, the families with children who have it the toughest get less money in their wallets.

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Madam Speaker! We can also observe, and it is important to remind, that in times of high inflation with a price development that is tough for many households and where those who have it toughest receive their income from various support systems, these are secured by virtue of the fact that they are increased.

I am very happy that we have a different government than the previous one, for the travesty of the members, the Left Party-led government. This government has dealt with inflation, and now we see that interest rates are going down. It will be good for Swedish households.

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Leonid Yurkovskiy (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Health Acko Ankarberg Johansson.

One can say that Swedish healthcare in itself is in need, in acute need, of care. Right now, there are far too many people waiting illegally long in the unacceptably long healthcare queues. We can state that previous governments actually did not do enough to solve these problems despite recurring warnings year after year.

Therefore, it is extra pleasing that the Minister has this week received a report that has presented proposals for one-off government interventions to shorten the healthcare queues.

This issue is very important for the Sweden Democrats. Therefore, my question is which of the measures the minister will prioritize to immediately address the acute problems and then particularly the illegally long waiting times.

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the question!

The healthcare queues have truly become entrenched in Swedish politics and in Swedish healthcare. It is almost as if patients take it for granted that they have to wait a long time.

It is clear that today many other countries have it in a similar way, but we have had it for 10-15 years. This means that even though money has come to healthcare, we have not in the long term been able to reduce the queues. We therefore need to learn much more about how we do to reduce the queues without displacement effects.

That is why the government and the coalition partner gave the assignment to a medically knowledgeable person, Anna Nergårdh, to look at how we could, through one-off state interventions, achieve something that is good for the patients, a patient benefit, and which does not lead to displacement effects.

I promise to return in the next post to how we do it.

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Leonid Yurkovskiy (SD)

Madam Speaker! With respect for the fact that the speaking time is very limited, I thought it was interesting that the Minister mentioned the long-term perspective and that it seems that resources alone have not been able to solve the problem.

I would also like to take the opportunity to ask how this relates to the long-term strategy.

In conclusion, I just want to state that it is very gratifying that the government and the Sweden Democrats have succeeded in making these wise decisions.

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! There are three areas that the investigator proposes we should prioritize right now.

It is about cataract surgeries, which can be performed in outpatient care.

It is about hip replacement, which is very advanced and requires many interventions.

It is also about pelvic floor, an area where very many women have never received the operation they need. Rather, they have been given the impression that it is something one has to live with as a woman. That is not the case.

Our government intends to ensure that we shorten the queues in primary care, but we also choose to highlight an area such as that concerning women's health, which has been neglected for so long.

We will return to paying for the performance of operations but also strengthen the ward offices.

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Karin Rågsjö (V)

Madam Speaker! My question is directed to Acko Ankarberg Johansson.

Politics means making priorities, and you have prioritized lower taxes for the richest. At the same time, you are raising the cost ceiling for the high-cost protection for medicines from 2,900 kronor to 3,800 - furthermore, only the first step so that the patient pays 75 percent instead of 50 percent. So that is how you prioritize.

The number of unemployed is increasing. They can expect 450 kronor less in their wallets. Food prices have risen by 25 percent since 2022.

Where should the money come from? That is perhaps what the single mother of three children asks herself, who must have medication for her chronic illnesses, continuous doctor visits, transport, food, clothes for the children, and so on. Why are you making life so tough for so many? What are you thinking? Are there no other paths we can take?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the question!

The previous government chose to remove the wealth tax. It is a crystal clear example of how one ensures that those who have the highest incomes get lower taxes.

We are making broad tax cuts that reach the many because it is necessary that people are able to keep more of their salary or their pension.

When it comes to the high-cost protection, it is essential that we have one. We see, and we have received, significantly higher medicine costs in recent years. We must be able to maintain a high-cost protection. Therefore, the Riksdag has decided to increase the patient fees. The Government will return to the Riksdag with a proposal on how. We currently have a Government Office proposal out for consultation. After that, the Government will prepare this and return to the Riksdag, which will get to examine the whole.

It is the case that medicines are a part of healthcare, but the costs have increased a great deal. Therefore, we are adding 6 billion to this year's budget so that we can manage the medicine costs. We will return to how the high-cost protection is to be changed.

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Karin Rågsjö (V)

Madam Speaker! Research is fantastic. People can live longer, and that is wonderful. But there are also perversions. I am thinking of the Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk's much-publicized diabetes medication Ozempic, whose sales in Sweden increased by 34 percent to approximately 977 million in 2024. This is the fourth best-selling medicine in Sweden.

One can say that Ozempic is being pushed out uncontrollably, especially from online doctors, not only to those who suffer from diabetes and severe overweight but also to those who are not satisfied with their bodies.

Is there not more we can do to press down the costs?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Now I am becoming a bit confused. The member says that it is fantastic with research that allows us to get medicines and that treat us, and then the member wants to remove medicines.

Semaglutide, as the member highlights, is a very special medicine, and the content has actually existed for quite some time. Now we know that it can be used for more indications.

In Sweden, it is precisely that specific thing the member mentioned that is approved for type 2 diabetes, nothing else. That is why the government has taken the initiative that the Medical Products Agency should be clear about this to those who prescribe. It should only be prescribed for the correct indication, nothing else.

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Kerstin Lundgren (C)

Madam Speaker! I and the Center Party want to see a general coastal protection abolished and that the decision-making should be done at the municipal level. The Center Party did succeed in getting the previous government to present a proposal that was a step in the right direction: abolished coastal protection for lakes under one hectare and for watercourses that are at most two meters wide. On July 1, 2022, it would have been possible to introduce this. It was then unfortunately rejected by the Tidö Government together with the Left Party.

It has now been three years, and now a new referral to the Council on Legislation is coming. Why has it taken so long to come back with almost the same proposal? What is it that has prevented the government from appointing an inquiry with a larger mandate much earlier than what now seems to be announced?

The question needs an answer. Why has the government delayed a matter that was so well prepared previously?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Madam Speaker! Finally, we can present the Government Bill that will make it easier, not least for people in rural areas, to build near their so-called shoreline – which often is actually a ditch on a field.

What the member did not mention is that the Center Party did reach an agreement with the Green Party regarding this coastal protection. I believe most here in the chamber know that the Center Party and the Green Party have brutally different views on coastal protection.

Some positive parts are mentioned in the previous proposal, but there were also significant negative parts. Therefore, a majority in the Swedish Riksdag did not want to implement that proposal in its entirety.

Now, based on the preparatory material that has already been available, we have come forward with the parts that do not require further investigation. At the same time, we have signaled that we will appoint a broader investigation regarding the shore protection.

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Kerstin Lundgren (C)

Madam Speaker! From a government that claims to be fast and wants to get things done, it is exciting to hear that it takes three years to present essentially the same proposal - three years to remove 25 meters! One of the points that was included in the previous proposal was 25 meters of coastal protection.

This could have been done faster if the government had wished. Why does it take the government three years to appoint a new investigation? It could have happened much faster by a government that wants to act quickly.

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Madam Speaker! There is one thing that differs in this proposal compared to the previous one, namely the 25 meters.

I can draw a parallel. It took almost seven and a half years for the previous - Centerpartiet-supported - government to do anything at all regarding the wolf issue - the issue I believe I have received the most questions about in this chamber from Centerparti members. It took until the time when the Socialdemokraterna sat alone in government before anything happened in that issue at all.

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Rebecka Le Moine (MP)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Rural Affairs and is on the same theme, namely the shore protection. The government has now signaled that it will remove the shore protection. The limit has been drawn at two meters for watercourses and one hectare for lakes. This means that one is auctioning off the right of public access to favor a few wealthy individuals at the public's expense.

It is the case that riparian zones along lakes and watercourses, regardless of size, are very species-rich. They are more species-rich than the surrounding landscapes. In Sweden, we have more than 1,000 red-listed species that have just shoreline zones and their adjacent environments as their habitat.

I want to ask the Minister for Rural Affairs if the government has conducted any impact assessment of what the proposal entails for the right of public access and for nature? And how large are the areas of nature for which the government is removing protection?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Madam Speaker! As Member Kerstin Lundgren pointed out earlier, it is indeed the agreement between Rebecka Le Moines and Kerstin Lundgren that partly forms the basis for the government's decision. No new investigation has been conducted; instead, we have chosen to proceed based on the existing preparatory material.

The Green Party's view on this issue is nevertheless interesting: that this would benefit a few wealthy people. It is obvious that Rebecka Le Moine has not met the farmer who wants to carry out a generational shift and build an additional dwelling on their property to make this practically possible, but who is denied because of a ditch that the person's grandfather dug a certain number of years ago.

So that is how shore protection is managed in practice in many areas, and that is something we definitely want to move away from. It is not about a few, wealthy people.

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Rebecka Le Moine (MP)

Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer. It is clear that the Minister for Rural Affairs has not been in dialogue with the Swedish people, as six out of ten want to see a strong coastal protection.

It is also the case that the current regulatory framework provides exemptions - around 8,000 per year for precisely those municipalities that need to favor rural interests. There is therefore already today a possibility to exploit the newly constructed ditches that the Minister for Rural Affairs mentions but which the proposal does not target.

My question is: Is it worth it?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Madam Speaker! Yes, it is worth changing the shore protection. That is why we are also putting forward this proposal.

We also look forward to developing the shore protection even further. In the existing proposal that we are now submitting, there are also opportunities for limitations if there are altogether too great consequences for, for example, the accessibility to the shoreline.

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Johan Hultberg (M)

Madam Speaker! Swedish healthcare is fantastic - once you actually manage to get through. But it is about getting through and getting that visit to the specialist you have been referred to or the operation you have been waiting for for so long.

Accessibility is too poor, and the healthcare queues are too long. I am therefore pleased that we have a Moderate-led government that is now doing a lot to shorten the healthcare queues. The government allocates a total of 7.5 billion in the budget to shorten the healthcare queues and increase healthcare capacity - but there are also requirements for the regions. Performance requirements accompany the money to the regions. The regions can even be liable for repayment if they do not deliver shorter queues. That is good, and it is important.

To cut the healthcare queues, we also need to think anew and differently. On Monday, as mentioned, the investigation from Anna Nergårdh was released with proposals for one-off state interventions. When does the Minister for Health believe we can see new, sharp proposals on how we cut the queues?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member, who is supplementing the question that was raised earlier.

We intend to return in the near future with both how we distribute the money for increased healthcare capacity and how we carry out the state one-off interventions. We do not have time to wait for anything now when the patients have waited so long.

It is also interesting that the investigator chooses three different types of interventions. That means we get a chance to, if we start and do this in the same way throughout the country, see if it has displacement effects or if we can avoid them. We can see how we need to work so that it actually becomes like this.

Not least, we can strengthen the ward offices so that they can speak with the patients and talk about where there is available capacity. We are also moving forward with a national healthcare brokerage that will give us a digital picture of where available healthcare capacity exists, something that has been requested for a long time by the ward offices. Today, they have to call around and ask: "Do you have an available bed?" That is something we should be able to report digitally so that one knows where there is available healthcare capacity.

We will therefore return in the near future both regarding the distribution of the large sums for increased healthcare capacity and regarding the state one-off interventions.

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Johan Hultberg (M)

Madam Speaker! I have type 1 diabetes, which is a chronic diagnosis. Unfortunately, the waiting lists in Swedish healthcare have also become an almost chronic condition.

It is good that more is being done now, but I believe we actually need to consider if we can sharpen this and come up with even tougher proposals. We really must ensure that patients receive care in a timely manner. Today, it is only six out of ten patients who receive care according to the statutory requirement, and that is not sufficient. Now we really must roll up our sleeves, deliver, and put pressure on the regions to take their responsibility. I look forward to new, sharp proposals from the government.

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! One of those things is about the fact that we need to reform the healthcare guarantee. Since it was introduced, it has never once been fulfilled in its entirety. The regions, which are to work under the law, have thus not fulfilled it. We cannot have a law that is not followed, and therefore we have decided to review the healthcare guarantee and make it different. Above all, we are to reduce the waiting times.

I have previously said that we can gladly glance at Denmark, which has a clearer and more straightforward system. However, they do not have regional self-government either. We therefore need to also look at the big question of who governs in Swedish health and medical care and who is held accountable. Today it is the regions, but we need to help each other.

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Gudrun Brunegård (KD)

Madam Speaker! I also wish to turn to Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson and, from another perspective, supplement the question of how we manage to ensure patients' right to receive timely care and to receive care on equal terms throughout the country.

There are major problems all over the country from different perspectives. In rural areas, it is even more difficult because it is hard to recruit competent staff, and there can be long distances already from the start. I know that the government cares that all of Sweden should live and function, and therefore it would be interesting to hear what the government is now planning when it comes to being able to provide the population in rural areas with health and medical care in a timely manner.

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for also raising this part of the healthcare issues. Sweden looks as it does geographically, but our mission is equal. Regardless of where one lives, one should have access to good care on equal terms.

It is clear that geography creates limitations, but there are smart ways to do this differently. We have now chosen to support Glesbygdsmedicinskt centrum so that they receive annual support from the state. They are located in Storuman, and they have found the keys here. They do not deliberate over whether it is the municipality or the region that should pay, but they meet the patient. They have staff in the clinic and resolve the situation for the patient. If one needs to stay overnight, one can do so.

When I was there on a visit last time, I became so central-bureaucratic; after a while I asked how they handle invoicing, agreements and so on if someone needs to stay overnight at the municipality. They looked at me and said: You'll notice that at the end of the month, when we invoice how many nights it was.

In other words: Don't overcomplicate things! Think about what the patients need, and then we will solve it together! That is what is done in Storuman, and we now hope that GMC will be able to support the whole country when it comes to working with rural medicine.

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Gudrun Brunegård (KD)

Madam Speaker! I too have visited the Rural Medicine Center and am very impressed by the work they perform. But we have rural areas in other parts of the country as well, and in my home county of Kalmar län, there are several towns, for example Högsby, Hultsfred and Gamleby, where for many years there have been problems staffing the health centers with permanent doctors so that patients can receive the permanent doctor contact they are entitled to. Does the government have any proposals regarding that part as well?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Today, the Government made a decision regarding the distribution of the nearly 3.7 billion that will go to municipalities and regions specifically to strengthen the possibility of permanent doctor contact and to expand primary care in sparsely populated areas and rural areas. State support is needed in order to be able to make some extra efforts.

Even though regions and municipalities have the statutory responsibility, it is wise of the government and its coalition partners to support them so that there can be a better development across the entire country. That is why we have made decisions regarding these funds, which we hope will have an effect across the whole country. We have rural areas in many places.

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Camilla Mårtensen (L)

Madam Speaker! I have a question for the Minister for Rural Affairs.

Sweden is one of the world's healthiest food-producing countries. We have good animal welfare, high quality requirements and sustainable processes. But now we see how other countries are making new, bold decisions for a sustainable food production for both the environment, animals and consumers.

A total of 240,000 tonnes of soy protein is imported annually to Sweden. Some is used for soy products, but quite large amounts go to animal feed for production in the dairy and beef cattle chain. Finland has taken an active decision to phase out its dependence on soy, and Finnish cattle receive no soy. Neither dairy cows nor calves receive it. This is a way to reach the country's climate goals.

How does the Minister for Rural Affairs view the possibility of making such a bold decision in Sweden?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for an interesting question.

A very exciting development is taking place in the Swedish food industry and Swedish agriculture - actually in the entire chain from farm to fork - where strong companies are making bold investment decisions. Shortly, I hope we see the first real protein factory in Sweden - actually in Lidköping, where an investment is being made to develop vegetable protein. The direction there is to work on replacing imported plant-based protein for human consumption, but there are also those who have thoughts on producing more feed-based protein.

This is a development that is very exciting and necessary, not least from a preparedness perspective.

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Camilla Mårtensen (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the answer.

Finland has, in connection with the goal of ending the import of soy, also set a goal for domestic production of fodder and other protein-rich crops, such as broad beans and field beans. That type of cultivation is also very suitable in Sweden. Would such a decision be wise in Sweden, both from a preparedness perspective and from a climate perspective?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Madam Speaker! We naturally welcome all innovative proposals. However, it is a matter of us being careful about what we shall intervene in regarding a relatively well-functioning industry and how we structure it. But it is clear that agriculture, just like all industries, has a great responsibility to transition, take responsibility, and do what can be done. We have great opportunities both for good livestock production in Sweden and for production on the vegetable side. I therefore look forward to much of what is happening around in our elongated country.

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Markus Selin (S)

Madam Speaker! At the summit in Davos yesterday, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez presented the proposal that anonymous accounts on social media should be banned within the EU. I think it is about time. This is perfectly reasonable. We are on a slippery slope now.

Behind spineless anonymous accounts, troll factories and so-called pre-programmed bots are also mixed in. When I look at today's children and young people, I actually hope that they escape seeing these sewage channels.

My question is addressed to Minister Erik Slottner, who is Sweden's Minister for Digitalization. How will the Minister for Digitalization work to ensure that anonymous accounts on social media are prohibited?

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Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)

Madam Speaker! Now the question was how this should be done, but the question perhaps first and foremost should be whether it should be done. There are no proposals or investigations underway today to work towards a ban. On the other hand, we have legislation that regulates content online. Not least, we have a common EU law called the Digital Services Act. It is intended to prevent illegal and, to some extent, inappropriate or even harmful content online, not least towards children and young people. I think this is very good legislation, and it is already being used to a great extent in many different aspects.

Anonymous accounts are a major issue that there is very much of. One could say that both the left and the right are heavily affected by this. I am, however, most concerned about the content. Thanks to the Digital Services Act, we can now access illegal and harmful content much more effectively than we have been able to until now.

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Staffan Eklöf (SD)

Madam Speaker! I would like to ask a question to Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren.

The government announced in November that it plans to abolish the Renmark Committee and replace it with a new investigation with new directives. Formally, the investigation has not yet been abolished, and it has not been announced how the issues are intended to be investigated further.

For us Sweden Democrats, the starting point is that all Swedish citizens shall have the same right to, for example, hunt and fish in our country. Will the government's continued work on the land use issues be based on ensuring that equal rights prevail for Swedish citizens when it comes to hunting in Sweden?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for the question.

The Government has decided to phase out the Renmark Committee. We have also announced that we will appoint a new investigation.

The first partial report from the Renmark Committee was out for consultation, and after that it became clear that the criticism was extremely extensive. It came from authorities, municipalities and interest organizations but also from Sámi organizations and representatives.

The purpose of the new investigation shall be to work out long-term sustainable proposals that have broad anchoring both among those affected and, of course, in Sweden's Riksdag. Preparation is ongoing in the Government Offices, and we will have reason to return to the issue when the time comes.

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Vasiliki Tsouplaki (V)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Niklas Wykman.

Around 340,000 Swedes are estimated to have some degree of gambling problems. The addiction does not only affect the individual player but also destroys relationships with friends and family. Entire lives are ruined as the money goes up in smoke. The debts can become large and sometimes reach into the millions. Therefore, it is very important that unserious gambling companies are shut out from the gambling market and that those who get trapped in gambling addiction can receive support and help.

Earlier this month, Sveriges Radio published a major investigation which, among other things, shows that Swedish companies, often based in Malta, want to appear serious and have a license here in Sweden but refuse to pay fines in other countries. The investigation also shows that a large supplier of gambling software is secretly operating unlicensed online casinos. Furthermore, it is revealed that Spelpaus - the system established to protect people with gambling addictions - has come to function as a register of particularly lucrative customers who can be lured to unlicensed gambling sites.

What measures does the Minister intend to take to address the serious problems with online casinos and potential leaks in Spelpaus?

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Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for an important and broad question.

I want to first say the obvious: I will not comment on individual cases. It is a matter for the authorities and the judicial apparatus of society to take on this and look at individual cases; it is not my role.

In the broader perspective, we can state that I and the member share the same perception of reality and description of reality in this area. Gaming is a great pleasure for many people, but it is also a pure abyss for many. Just as the member describes, it hits hard on individuals who incur debt and on entire families.

That is why the range of measures from the government's side is broad. It concerns everything from increased resources to the relevant authorities and more tools for, among other things, the Gambling Inspectorate to stricter regulations regarding what different companies are allowed to do. It is a broad issue - hence this broad answer.

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Martina Johansson (C)

Madam Speaker! During the previous parliamentary term, the Center Party submitted proposals for relaxations in the coastal protection to provide the countryside with better conditions. Now, three years later, the government is submitting almost the same proposal. Since the government has previously been inspired by our proposals, I wonder if the Minister for Rural Affairs could be further inspired to improve the countryside by converting the government's relocation grants, which are intended to make people move away from the countryside, in favor of a recruitment support to make people move within the country to our welfare jobs in the countryside.

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Madam Speaker! I believe that the most important thing for an attractive Sweden, including an attractive countryside, is that there are good opportunities to live, work, and operate in the entire country. We are making major efforts for exactly this, not least within the agricultural sector, which is so important for the countryside. Among other things, we are strengthening the Swedish co-financing of the common agricultural policy by more than three-quarters of a billion kronor. We are investing in rural retailers, healthcare, and justice authorities, such as the police and so on.

I believe that is the absolute most important thing for having a living countryside, but of course, the government is open to all good proposals. Let us continue to discuss this issue!

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Fredrik Saweståhl (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Erik Slottner.

On 9 January, the government announced that it is establishing a regional review function. The purpose of this function, or group, is to study the regions and look at how they can become more efficient in their financial management and in how they carry out their operations.

It is obvious that this need is great. We all know that many regions suffer from long healthcare queues, problems in public transport and, not least, very poor economic management. We see this, not least by the fact that taxes are being raised broadly in our regions.

A clear example is Region Stockholm, where I live and where we all find ourselves right now. We are constantly met with headlines about cuts in public transport and withdrawn buses. It is stops and problems, and no one gets there they want to. Car traffic is increasing as a consequence of bad politics.

The same applies to the healthcare sector. The healthcare queues are growing, clinics are being closed for ideological reasons, and so on.

My question to the Minister is what expectations we who live in Stockholm can have regarding the recommendations from this review function concerning improving the situation here and in other regions.

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Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)

Madam Speaker! I hope that this review function will be an important measure. It is part of a package to improve healthcare in Sweden through increased resources and better governance, not least better economic management. I think it is very important that we often reflect on how we can achieve more quality and get more out of every tax krona we spend on healthcare, school, social services, elderly care, etcetera.

I travel a lot in Sweden and visit both municipalities and regions. I see that municipalities and regions with similar structural conditions have very different cost levels. This is a way to help the regions achieve better economic management. They can also receive tips and ideas about methods that work well in other regions.

Furthermore, we have an efficiency delegation that will be able to provide money directly to regions for measures that may initially become a lump sum cost but which, in a few years' perspective, can lower the operating costs in healthcare so that we get more welfare for every krona we put into it.

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Mathias Bengtsson (KD)

Madam Speaker! This summer, within the span of just a few weeks, Dalarna was hit by two horrific wolf attacks. In the village of Djura outside Leksand, 13 sheep died after a wolf attack. The next time it happened in Knåpbodarna in Rättvik municipality, where 12 sheep fell victim to the wolf.

After an attack like the one in Djura, protective hunting should be a matter of course, but the County Administrative Board denied the application. To stand powerless in the face of such devastation and then be turned away by the authority is a mockery of all those affected.

This shows that we must change how we manage wolf management, not least now when license hunting is underway. Despite the obvious problems that the wolf poses in Dalarna, we were not allocated a single wolf to cull. It stings in the eyes of many of us who live in wolf territories.

Therefore, I want to ask the Minister for Rural Affairs: What is the message to all those whose animals are attacked, and when will the wolf population decrease?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Mathias Bengtsson, for the question!

The message is that we have ensured that we have updated thumb rules regarding protection hunting. Some change has occurred following an initiative from the government in the part concerning protection hunting.

Regarding the hunting of wolves and the number of wolves in Sweden, the government has announced that when it is time to report a new reference value to the EU Commission, we will report 170 wolves, as the Riksdag has so many times announced for governments in this country.

We have also given the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency an updated mandate, which has been reported back. It also shows that we could have a significantly smaller wolf population than we have today. But that requires certain measures. When those measures are successively in place, the wolf population will also decrease.

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Yasmine Bladelius (S)

Madam Speaker! The healthcare queues are now longer than ever before. In total, over 600,000 patients are waiting for care in Sweden.

Now the government's investigators propose that the portal paragraph in the Health and Medical Services Act should be set aside and that those who do not have the greatest need should be operated on first.

Does the Minister not see, like for example Läkarförbundet, a risk that cheating and displacement effects occur this time as well, as they did last time, with the so-called "kömiljarden"?

How does the Minister view the fact that the portal paragraph in the Health and Medical Services Act may not be followed with this proposal, when the needs principle is now being sidelined?

Would it not be better instead to invest in more staff in healthcare and to once and for all put a stop to the cuts in a healthcare system already in severe crisis?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the question!

The proposal from the investigator is not about undermining the Health and Medical Services Act. It is about adding to it.

Every region has to follow the Health and Medical Services Act from day one of every year to the last day of every year. The principle of need governs. There is no chance for any region to escape it. They have that responsibility towards their employees and their patients in their region.

What we are doing now is to add so that one also receives payment to be able to cut the queues that have been very long. The investigator goes very clearly through the prioritization issues and the displacement effects in his memorandum.

I recommend it for reading for everyone. It is a knowledgeable investigation. The people conducting the investigation are themselves doctors with many years of experience. They have gone in-depth on the prioritization issues, the principle of need, and the displacement effects.

We have the answers we need. Now it is time for us to do something for real. One gets paid if one performs the operation for the one who has waited a long time.

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David Perez (SD)

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

In Sweden, we have a very healthy savings culture. Since the turn of the year, the right to deduct securities loans has worsened and been removed from precisely the capital insurance, but remains for both share portfolios and investment savings accounts. Capital insurances are, as the minister knows, a popular form of savings. It is nevertheless reasonable to have equal treatment among similar forms of savings.

Does the Minister consider it important to have equal treatment of the different forms of savings? Will the Government work to ensure that capital insurance also is covered by the interest deduction?

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Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Madam Speaker! The member refers to a change resulting from an interpretation that has been made by the Swedish Tax Agency. This interpretation has not been subjected to legal review. There is a possibility to request a preliminary ruling, to obtain a review and in that way see what the law says according to the highest instance.

How it is handled and how that process takes place, I as a minister shall not comment on. So far, it concerns an agency interpretation that has not been tested. I shall not comment on that.

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Andrea Andersson Tay (V)

Madam Speaker! In Sweden, the goals for how much nature should be protected and restored have until now been based on what science says is required to preserve species and their habitats. But now, the government, in its regulatory letters to responsible authorities, has decided on significant changes. The reference areas for forest nature types shall be reported based on the situation at the EU accession in 1995, and the authorities shall review guidelines so that the minimum level in the Birds and Habitats Directives is met.

The government is doing this so that the nature restoration law will have as little effect as possible in Sweden and thereby satisfy the forestry industry. The changes are arbitrary and have not been preceded by any scientific analysis of what is required to preserve biodiversity. It is a threat to the entire Swedish nature conservation work.

My question to the Minister for Rural Affairs is: Does the Minister share Environmental Commissioner Jessika Roswall's view that scientific methods should be used to assess ecological needs in, for example, the forest?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for the question!

Finally, we will be reporting somewhat more like the rest of Europe. We are virtually alone in having a pre-industrial time, which causes quite a lot of problems for us. This applies, among other things, to the Nature Restoration Law.

One must also note that Sweden is a leader in forest protection. Over 25 percent of the Swedish forest has already been taken out of production, and over 10 percent is already strictly protected.

It makes Sweden one of the EU countries closest to reaching the goal of, for example, biodiversity. It is also important to include in the discussion.

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Fredrik Kärrholm (M)

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

There are over 350 dog breeds and breed variants registered in Sweden. It is a scientific fact that some types of dogs are more dangerous than others. This is due partly to the dog's physical characteristics, and partly to mental characteristics.

So-called high-risk attacks have become more common both in Sweden and in Europe. This has led to more serious injuries. Recently, a small child in Sweden had their face torn open. It has led to more deaths. In recent years, several people have died in Sweden due to dog attacks.

In several other countries, high-risk breeds have either been banned or ownership has been linked to specific requirements. Regulated breeding is an additional measure.

Now the government is taking very good measures to strengthen supervision and the possibility of taking reactive measures. But what opportunities does the minister see, and what are the ideas on how one can more preventively limit the occurrence of dangerous dogs?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Fredrik Kärrholm, for an important question!

First and foremost: If you own a dog, it is your responsibility how that dog behaves. It is your responsibility to ensure that it does not harm other people and that it does not harm other dogs or possibly other animals.

It is a great responsibility to be a dog owner. Regardless of whether you have a labrador, chihuahua, pug, or whatever kind of dog it may be, it is a great responsibility to have an animal.

The Government wants to reduce the number of dog-related injuries. Therefore, we have given Statskontoret a mandate, a mandate that has been reported and supplemented with a memorandum where further analysis and more proposals have been developed. The investigation has now been sent for consultation to about forty relevant authorities and other organizations. Now we are working on this. I can also announce here today that the work on a Council on Legislation referral has begun.

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Lili André (KD)

Madam Speaker! In recent weeks, reports have emerged of empty meat counters in several stores across the country. At the same time, we know that the choice of Swedish meat is crucial not only for our own food supply and crisis preparedness but also for maintaining a sustainable production and supporting our Swedish farmers.

We see that the farmers have challenges, including in the form of rising production costs, competition from imported meat with lower requirements, as well as difficulties in securing long-term investments. Swedish farmers play a crucial role in ensuring high quality, good animal welfare, and reduced climate impact compared to imported alternatives. A reduced availability of Swedish meat can negatively affect these important values.

My question goes to the Minister for Rural Affairs: How does the Minister view this development, and what does the government intend to do to promote access to Swedish meat for consumers in the future as well?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you very much for the question, Lili André!

What we can state is that there has now been a period of shortage of Swedish beef. Other types of meat, such as pork, there is still plenty of. So please continue to buy the Swedish, but right now you might not be able to buy just the cut you had in mind in some parts of Sweden if you want Swedish beef.

This has a long series of causes. According to the industry, the Christmas holidays can be one such cause. There are many red days and difficulties with transport, slaughter, and so on. Another cause is, naturally, that there has been too little production. From the primary producers, the possibility of obtaining calves is something that has been lifted. Here, the cause in turn is poor profitability.

The government is working broadly to strengthen the profitability of Swedish agriculture. It is extremely important that we Swedes continue to try to buy Swedish food.

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Per-Arne Håkansson (S)

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

I want to bring up the office of the County Administrative Governors (landshövdingar). It is an important office that has existed since the 1600s and involves being the head of authority over the County Administrative Boards (länsstyrelserna) in Sweden. Right now, we lack County Administrative Governors in three positions in Sweden. In Stockholm County, Anna Kinberg Batra left her post in October 2024, and Claes Lindgren is acting. In Östergötland, Carl Fredrik Graf left his post in September 2024, and Ann Holmlid is acting. In Gävleborg, Per Bill left the post of County Administrative Governor in August 2024, and Veronica Lauritzsen is acting. All are honorable and competent individuals, but there is a lack of County Administrative Governors.

My question is: When does the Minister for Civil Affairs intend to appoint the County Governors? How long does he mean a County Administrative Board can go without one?

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Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for this important question.

First and foremost, it must be said that no counties or county administrative boards are without leadership. The Government has appointed acting county governors during this time.

It is not unusual that when a county governor resigns, it takes some time before a new permanent county governor is in place. If I may boast a little, this government has actually received praise from many for the fact that the appointment of new county governors has gone very quickly, significantly faster than under the previous government. There have not been such long vacancies.

Now, vacancies have arisen in some places. It will be announced when new permanent governors arrive. It is not something that is announced a long time in advance, but press releases are sent out when this is to be presented. It is the government that makes decisions on this. When this happens, I cannot stand here and tell you now, but the members and the rest of the population will find out when the time comes. So hang in there!

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Mats Hellhoff (SD)

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

The government, with the support of the Sweden Democrats, has pushed through several changes to reduce over-indebtedness. Among other things, the interest ceiling is to be lowered from 40 to 20 percent and a new cost ceiling is to be introduced to prevent the credit companies from charging excessively high costs. We also want to introduce a complete debt register, something that both the industry and the Financial Supervisory Authority want.

At the end of November last year, a majority in the Riksdag stood behind our proposal for an announcement. The Minister for Finance himself said in an interview in the podcast Generation skuldsatt that the question of a complete register is something one should consider.

What advantages does the Minister see in a complete debt register? And when does the government expect to introduce such a debt register in accordance with the announcement?

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Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Madam Speaker! The question of a debt register has been discussed for a longer period. When one then tackles the matter and looks with more precision at what can be done and which measures would have the greatest effect, one can observe that very much lending today is not controlled. There is, after all, an infrastructure with credit reports where there is a lot of information, but very much lending occurs in an unserious manner without proper credit assessment. They do not even check against available information.

That is why we have talked about these proposals concerning the requirement for a banking license, for example, to be allowed to conduct lending to individuals. A great deal happens today completely without a credit check. We have wanted to address this first rather than introducing more registers when the problem is that one does not even check against the facts that already exist.

With that said, this is obviously a question that can be looked into further. That door is, as I have also said, absolutely not closed.

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Peder Björk (S)

Madam Speaker! Today is the poorest day of the year. It is felt in the wallet for very many. Single mothers are among the worst affected. Every second single mother states that she cannot manage unforeseen expenses.

That the SD-government has not supported ordinary people during an economic crisis is not only immoral but also bad growth policy. Economic support for welfare and supporting the families who are struggling the most is what gets the economy moving in a recession. Tax cuts for the already wealthy are less effective. With a Social Democratic government, Sweden's families with children would have received an increase of the child allowance by 200 kronor every month this week.

My question to Minister Kullgren is: Why has the SD government, unlike other Nordic governments, chosen not to increase the child allowance?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question. It is very similar to the first one posed by Gunilla Carlsson, but I can repeat parts of the answer.

But first and foremost: There are three parties sitting in the government. The Sweden Democrats do not. It is about as true to talk about an SD-led government as it would be for me to say that the previous government was led by the Left Party. It becomes a bit tiresome and unnecessary.

This government has invested broadly in strengthening household finances through tax cuts and other measures. The absolute most important thing, however, is that we have managed to get hold of inflation, which was extremely harmful for Swedish households and individual wage earners but also for municipalities, regions, and the entire public sector. It is extremely central for us to be able to turn the economy around and invest in achieving growth and more people in work. That is the absolute most important thing we can do.

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Johnny Svedin (SD)

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

Given the increased global security threats and the need for a strengthened level of self-sufficiency, Sweden's agriculture faces major challenges. An acute problem is the difficulties with generational transitions. Statistics show that a large proportion of Sweden's farmers are approaching retirement age and that fewer young people are willing or have the opportunity to take over. This risks making it more difficult to produce necessary agricultural products in the future, which in the long run will undermine our food security.

Against this background, I would like to ask the Minister what measures he intends to take to ensure that a new generation of farmers can also produce the goods Sweden needs in the future.

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question, Johnny Svedin.

The absolute most important thing for a strong and prosperous agriculture and, in the long run, a sustainable food production is that we have a strong farming sector. I also believe that it is an important factor for being able to carry out generational transitions. Profitable companies find it easier to carry out that type of transaction and make them work.

We are doing a long series of things, which the member is aware of. Within a relatively short time, I hope to be able to present an updated food strategy. There are several investigations. Some are out for consultation, and others I look forward to receiving.

Yesterday, Minister for Climate and Environment Romina Pourmokhtari received an investigation on environmental permits. It is finally proposed there that agriculture should no longer be seen as environmentally hazardous activity by definition. This signifies an important signal for more young people to want to enter that industry.

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Björn Petersson (S)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Rural Affairs Kullgren.

Almost five years ago, in a study circle on motion writing at home in Torsås, we used the problem with the skarven as an example. For us in the southern end of Kalmarsund, it is an issue that engages.

Our motion received support at the Social Democratic party congress, which prompted immediate actions in both the Riksdag and the government. It is with great pleasure that I note that Minister for Rural Affairs Kullgren and the current government have taken the baton forward. It is clear that Sweden now has its sights set on a sustainable amount of cross-country skis.

Madam Speaker! How is the work progressing to get the EU on the same page?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank Björn Petersson for a good question, and thanks also for the motion writing and the influence on the Social Democratic party congress!

I believe it is important that we are united on the issue and that we all do what we can with our contacts to also change the EU.

I have personally raised this issue under the item Other matters at a meeting in the council, and I received broad support, not least regarding the cormorant. We also discussed seals, which can pose a major problem, not least for fishing. It is quite clear that cormorants need to be reclassified so that we can increase hunting pressure or use other methods to reduce the cormorant population. Seals and cormorants together take significantly more fish in certain areas than our fishers are close to taking. This is problematic given the challenges the fish stocks face, not least in the Baltic Sea.

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Björn Tidland (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is directed to Minister for Civil Affairs Erik Slottner. In today's society, with thousands of industrially manufactured products, both people and the environment are exposed to chemicals and harmful substances. Despite all efforts by the Swedish Chemicals Agency, uncontrolled e-commerce still occurs, which means that countless products containing harmful substances enter the country. It is particularly serious when cheap toys containing harmful substances are imported.

In addition to harmful chemicals in toys, the uncontrolled e-commerce from countries outside the EU involves diminished consumer protection, deception, lack of quality, and products that do not meet EU standards and legal requirements. It is the result of the increased e-commerce.

Question Time

Does the Minister consider that the current regulatory framework and authority oversight are sufficient to prevent the pitfalls of increased e-commerce?

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Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question, Björn Tidland.

It is probably easy to answer no to the question of whether enough is being done. Even if more needs to be done, I would still say that we have a robust regulatory framework regarding the prohibition of and regulation of those types of products. It is therefore not permitted to supply Europe with dangerous products or with dangerous chemicals. The EU Commission has a fairly extensive review in which, among others, Swedish authorities are involved. This takes place partly from a marketing perspective, and partly from chemical legislation, the product safety regulation, the toys directive, etc.

But it is difficult to control all the goods that enter Europe. Now there are several proposals on the table on how we can move forward to strengthen the control further so that the products do not enter Europe. I have, together with Minister for Enterprise Ebba Busch, invited round-table discussions with a number of actors to see how we can work more efficiently to tackle that type of import to Europe.

Question time was hereby concluded.

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