Question Time

TREDJE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions will be answered today by Minister for Education Johan Pehrson, Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson, Minister for Employment and Integration Mats Persson, and Minister Romina Pourmokhtari.

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

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Fredrik Lundh Sammeli (S)

Madam Speaker! The police sounded the alarm nearly half a year ago that gang criminals are running HVB homes. Children are placed straight into the arms of gang criminals. Despite this, the municipalities are not allowed to receive information from either Ivo or the police regarding which homes are involved, so that they can cancel the placements.

Question Time

The supervision is failing, and the authority has lacked a director-general for nearly a year. The government stands helpless. It is said that the homes shall be closed, but very few of them have been closed. The children remain, and the tax money continues to feed gang crime.

Yesterday, the Minister for Health and Social Affairs spoke for the first time, and the message was that Ivo must adapt. But why does the Minister not speak about the fact that reality needs to change? It is a market failure, and I want to know how the Minister for Health and Social Affairs ensures not only that Ivo adapts but also that the problem is addressed.

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for an important question! When it comes to HVB-homes, it is the Minister for Social Services who is responsible for them. I am responsible for the agency, so I will concentrate my part of the answer there.

The Director General left in September, so it has not been a year. In the near future, we will be able to announce who will become the new Director General, and I am very pleased about that.

The questions raised by the member are extremely serious. It was only in the autumn that Ivo was given the opportunity to become a so-called LUS authority. These are authorities that, with the support of the law, can exchange certain protected or confidential pieces of information so that they can do something for real.

Certain authorities have this possibility in cases of organized crime of a more serious nature. They received that possibility during the autumn, which means they can now receive direct information. It came quite late, but it has developed well since December.

Since it is not certain that all the information that a few authorities can obtain with the support of the law can be passed on, but it is an important part. We must look further into whether confidentiality-breaking provisions are needed in more places.

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Fredrik Lundh Sammeli (S)

Madam Speaker! More resources and new tools for the agency Ivo are important. If the government simply delivers this, I believe there will be a broad majority to back the proposals.

The HVB crisis is, however, much larger, and it would be interesting to hear if the Minister for Health believes that Ivo, with more resources and better tools, can handle this market failure which so clearly leads to children being placed with gang criminals.

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Let me put it this way: We have seen examples where municipally run homes have precisely this problem. If it had been so simple that it only existed in the procured homes, it would have been a simpler question, but it exists broadly. Regardless of whether the homes are publicly run or privately run, we see these dreadful parts.

Ivo has traditionally worked with quality issues and patient safety issues. Now they have needed to add knowledge regarding what concerns criminals. They need to be able to understand corporate structures and much more law. They are doing it really well. They have received 28 million steadily per year. They can hire more, but they need more legal possibilities.

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Patrick Reslow (SD)

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

Last week's tragic school attack in Örebro showed how important it is to have preparations and to have strict routines for practicing, for example, evacuation and other things.

Today, the schools have fire drills which are quite common and where one ensures that the routines are maintained in the event of a fire. In these exercises, both teachers and students participate.

When it comes to exercises for crisis situations, it looks different among different principals. Not too infrequently, such exercises occur without the students, i.e., only with the staff, but it is important that the students are also involved and know how to act if an acute danger arises.

My question is: What measures does the government intend to take to ensure that all principals take in the information material that exists on, for example, evacuation, and that exercises are carried out together with the students?

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Utbildningsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! It is true that there is much we must learn from the heinous massacre in my hometown of Örebro.

The government has for a longer period, not least in cooperation with the Sweden Democrats, worked on school safety issues, to work partly with the dynamic security issues, partly with the physical security issues and how they should be taken forward. Everyone here recognizes the discussion about whether one should have entry controls or not. It is common in many schools, and very few think it is strange.

We are now moving forward with a proposal concerning all schools working with preparedness plans. We are also moving forward with other proposals to further strengthen school security. This is not primarily about the horrific mass murder in Örebro, but it is nevertheless important for all schools.

School is one of Sweden's most important workplaces, and unauthorized persons should not be there. If they should nevertheless be there and the worst happens, one must have practiced for, for example, an evacuation.

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Patrick Reslow (SD)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the answer.

Another question that is also handled somewhat differently is how the authorities ensure that no unauthorized persons enter the school premises. Some schools lock the entrances, and others do not.

My question is: What measures does the government intend to take to ensure that no unauthorized persons stay on schools or school grounds?

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Utbildningsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! What the government presented yesterday in cooperation with the Sweden Democrats were the proposals that we agree on, namely that all schools shall ensure that they work actively so that unauthorized persons are not at schools.

Schools may do this in different ways depending on the students' age and the physical conditions at the school, but they must actively have a plan to ensure that there are no unauthorized persons at the school. There, one must be authorized, and it shall be knowledge, education and the future.

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Ciczie Weidby (V)

Madam Speaker! Last Monday, the port employers announced that a union representative from Hamnarbetarförbundet had been given notice of dismissal and had been reported to the police for offenses against the Security Protection Act, after the union had issued a notice of blockade of war materiel to Israel.

The union sees it as a right to stand up for international law and criticize Israel's war crimes and suspected genocide. The Labour Court ruled that Hamnarbetarförbundet had the right to act according to Swedish labor law, the Chancellor of Justice decided not to initiate a preliminary investigation, and the police confirmed that all police reports have been dismissed.

Therefore, my question to the Minister for Employment: What is the Minister's opinion on the fact that Swedish employers' organizations neither wait for nor respect our legal instances, but instead act entirely on their own initiative in this manner against trade union representatives?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Ciczie Weidby, for an excellent question!

Sweden is a special country. We have our own labor market model where the parties take very great responsibility to ensure that wage earners in Sweden receive standard improvements and real wage improvements. They have a responsibility to ensure that we do not have too many strikes in Sweden. They take a responsibility to ensure that the working environment functions well at workplaces and so on.

It is an important part of the Swedish model that the parties take their responsibility. They have also been given a lot of freedom from the politicians to do this. It is a model that has served Sweden very well.

There is also the possibility to appeal to court, and that has been done in this case. It is naturally important that the court process is allowed to take its course so that we have order and clarity in the Swedish labor market.

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Ciczie Weidby (V)

Madam Speaker! It is interesting to note that the Minister for Employment thinks that a party can without any problems breach this agreement, that is, still proceed with dismissing a trade union representative simply because one thinks they are a bit troublesome. Several judicial instances have said that no crime has been committed and that they are not proceeding with anything. I think the Minister for Employment could comment on that.

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TREDJE VICE TALMANNEN

I remind you that the questions must concern the ministers' performance of their duties.

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I am naturally not surprised that the Left Party here in the Riksdag questions the Swedish model. It has been the idea with the association since the party was formed in a true communist spirit.

It is clear that the government, and I myself as a representative of the Liberals, stand up for the Swedish model. I think we should all be very proud of it.

(Applause)

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Rickard Nordin (C)

Madam Speaker! Swedish climate emissions are increasing. SCB calls the increase unique, and it is the first time that emissions have increased for three consecutive quarters. Nothing suggests that the last quarter of 2024 would be any different.

The emissions are significantly higher than when the government took office. The emissions are expected to be significantly higher when the government ends its mandate period than when it took office.

This policy harms not only the climate but also security and competitiveness. The government's response was a scrappage premium, which has become a fiasco. They say that the vehicle fleet is to be electrified, but emissions from new cars are increasing.

Instead of introducing tougher rules and providing new opportunities, the government wants to review the climate goals. It is not difficult to calculate that the underlying intention is to abolish the goals that Sweden now looks set to miss. But we would rather need to sharpen them. My question to the Minister for Climate is therefore whether the government can guarantee that the review to be conducted will not lead to emissions increasing by even a single ton compared to the current goals.

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! The climate issue is important and is constantly debated. It is about how Sweden should live up to its goals. What is interesting is what is required for Sweden to reduce its emissions. We see that two-thirds of Sweden's emissions come from the industrial and transport sectors.

Every day when I speak with the industry and the transport sector, their greatest fear and what they worry about most regarding how Sweden's emissions are to be reduced is the question of whether there will be enough power and whether the electricity supply will hold up or not. If one fails in the electricity issue, there are no ways for Sweden to reduce its emissions. It is electricity that allows us to reduce our emissions.

The government is working hard for more wind power and nuclear power in Sweden. That is why this government has said yes to more projects to develop offshore wind power than the previous government did. We are shifting the policy so that new nuclear power can be built. It will lead to real results with reduced emissions in the long term. It will be able to contribute to Sweden meeting its climate goals.

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Rickard Nordin (C)

Madam Speaker! It seems as if the Minister has written their answer in advance, because what I asked about was not this, but the review that the government has tasked the Environmental Goals Commission to carry out. Is one prepared to sharpen the climate goals? Is one prepared to let this review be carried out without it meaning that Sweden's emissions increase and the ambitions we have decrease?

Can the government guarantee that the review being conducted does not lead to emissions increasing by even a single ton compared to the current target? That was my question – nothing else.

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! The assignment we have given to the Environmental Goals Commission, and which they are now to begin working on, is to ensure that the Swedish goals do not work in the wrong direction in relation to the EU goals, which Sweden also needs to live up to.

Rickard Nordin is certainly well aware that it is through the EU that we are to live up to the Paris Agreement and the UN's climate goals. Therefore, the Swedish goals must not work in the opposite direction. That is the mandate that the Environmental Objectives Council has been given, and it is what I expect them to devote their time to. The new mandate is simply about Sweden not only having high-reaching goals but also working effectively and in the right way to achieve them.

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Nils Seye Larsen (MP)

Madam Speaker! I have a question for the Minister for Employment and Integration.

Due to unreasonably high maintenance requirements, people are now being deported despite having permanent employment and wages in accordance with collective agreements. These are people who have done everything since they came here to Sweden. These are people who are needed in healthcare, elderly care, and the business sector.

In northern Sweden, there is an acute shortage of labor. People are missing. Recently, for example, elderly care in Umeå issued an appeal to the government to review the maintenance requirement. They have already lost over 50 employees, and within elderly care there, an additional 100 are at risk of deportation due to the high requirements. Will the government lower the unreasonably high maintenance requirement?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you to the questioner for a very important question! It is about the fact that we in Sweden must have order and clarity on the labor market. We do not want a labor immigration that involves people being exploited on the Swedish labor market. Unfortunately, we have seen that over the last 10-15 years.

At the same time, we want highly skilled labor – labor that Sweden needs – to be able to come here in a simpler way than today. What we are doing from the government's side is to tighten the rules so that they make it impossible for people from other countries to be exploited. We are also making it easier and more attractive for highly skilled labor to come to our country. These are people who want to create a new future for themselves, contribute to our welfare, and build prosperity in Sweden.

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Nils Seye Larsen (MP)

Madam Speaker! What happened to the previous alliance government's motto that it should pay to work? In what way has it paid to work for the people who are now to be deported? What does the government intend to do now when the business sector in northern Sweden is in desperate need of labor? The elderly, people with disabilities, and patients risk being left without staff within LSS, elderly care homes, hospitals, and personal assistance.

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I am not surprised that the Green Party is pursuing this line. Much of the responsibility for the migration policy Sweden has had rests on the Green Party, and it has, among other things, contributed to the exploitation of labor migrants. That is something we do not wish to participate in.

We want to ensure that it becomes easier and more attractive for highly skilled labor to come to Sweden to contribute to the welfare and the industry and thereby contribute to Sweden's prosperity.

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Emma Ahlström Köster (M)

Madam Speaker! More and more people are seeking medical care for issues such as stress, depression, anxiety, and sleep difficulties. In Bris's children's report from 2024, it is stated that the number of children and young people who have contacted the organization has increased by 41 percent since 2020. The primary reason is increased mental ill-health.

Another growing problem in society is involuntary loneliness. Every fourth person is involuntarily lonely, and this means an increased risk of suffering from stroke, heart attack, and dementia. This despite the fact that much could have been prevented.

Physical activity has a positive impact on both mental and physical health and has already begun to be used in healthcare in some parts of our country. Regions and county administrative boards have jointly developed concepts such as Physical activity on prescription and Nature activity on prescription. Another example is the concept Häng med oss ut - outdoor life for mental health. The initiatives have yielded very good results and are now being studied at Uppsala University. Therefore, I wonder if Minister for Health and Social Affairs Acko Ankarberg Johansson wants to work towards ensuring that all regions and municipalities are given the opportunity to invest in similar concepts.

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the questions! All of the Member's questions fall under Social Minister Jakob Forssmed's area, but I am happy to answer them.

The government is working on all these parts. However, we do not have the possibility to force regions, because we have autonomy today. That means one can choose whether to do this. But let me specifically say a few words about the project Häng med oss ut.

I have had to make that journey together with some in Skåne. They clearly showed how one can move from a rather difficult situation in one's illness, but with help from outdoor life and activities, one can return to a better life where one can feel quality of life and take steps forward.

An outsider might think: "What, can it help to go out into the forest?" Yes, actually. But it must happen with the right support. Here, one had a combination of knowledgeable staff within rehabilitation and outdoor life through civil society. I believe that combination is absolutely excellent. We support that.

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Emma Ahlström Köster (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the answer. It is pleasing and fantastically positive that the Minister is well-informed regarding this specific project.

I just want to briefly add to where the minister finished. This concept truly contributes to increased mental health in a fairly simple way. It started as a project between social psychiatric operations in Skåne and Friluftsfrämjandet, which can best facilitate such activities.

I thank the Minister for the good effort so far, and I hope that she continues to work for exactly this.

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! It has truly been necessary that we have raised the issues of mental health, the role of civil society, but also loneliness. Issues of loneliness have never been raised by previous governments. In the United Kingdom, it has been done for quite a long time.

Today we know that it affects health when I do not have a self-chosen but an imposed loneliness. Research also shows that it can directly cause diseases. It is therefore necessary that we invest more in the area. The combination of public health and medical care and civil society is really good.

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Dan Hovskär (KD)

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

Last Tuesday, the terrible act occurred in Örebro with many injured and dead. Civil society, the police, and the emergency services did a fantastic job in a very tough situation with much sorrow and despair. Healthcare quickly switched to emergency mode when the alarm came about a mass casualty incident. They completed the mission very well. Many important measures were taken in a short time, for example, expanded possibilities for more emergency beds. The patients who arrived at the hospital were shot and were in a serious condition.

The hospital's crisis preparedness was put to a great test, and the staff did a very professional job. I know that the Minister for Health himself was on site and visited the staff.

Does the government judge that the regions and the healthcare system are prepared for such events?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Let me start like this: In some sense, we will never be prepared for mass casualty incidents like this, will we? We do not want this to happen again.

The risk, however, is that it does. That is the reason why we make many kinds of preparations and have done so for a long time. It may have been something that strengthened the staff I met on Monday, who told me about what they had done last Tuesday. They felt a sense of pride in having managed to handle this so well. It was a professionalism, even though many of them were directly affected, as they had children at the school or had relatives who were affected. They made an impressive effort.

This shows, however, that one needs to work with preparedness from two sides. More national coordination is needed in large parts of the preparedness, and one must also work very locally on how to proceed. What I have seen is that both of these parts functioned well during this event. But we must continue to prepare for that which we do not want to happen.

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Dan Hovskär (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the answer.

Many important measures were taken by the healthcare services in Örebro in a very short time when they received many severely injured patients after the horrific act. The staff should receive great praise for their fantastic effort.

Does the Minister see that we need to come up with more and other measures? How does the Government assess what needs to be done further to increase crisis preparedness in the event of mass casualty incidents?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! That we must prepare for a mass casualty incident was one of the issues that I raised early on as Minister. We must train in different ways. The various resources must train to work together, find current situational pictures so that one can see where ambulance transports are located and where healthcare capacity exists. But there is also a need for national security stocks, which we have built up for large sums so that we can assist in a very difficult situation.

Right now, good work is being done at all levels, and we shall try to become even better at different kinds of crises.

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Lina Nordquist (L)

Madam Speaker! Minister Ankarberg Johansson! Healthcare is the responsibility of the regions in Sweden, and therefore the regions also reasonably have the responsibility to ensure that working conditions are good so that professionals enjoy their work and want to stay in the profession. At the same time, there is, in many places, at least much left to be done in this area. The vacancies are many. Far too few truly experienced and knowledgeable people want to stay in the profession and support their colleagues, those who are less experienced, newly graduated professionals.

For the sake of healthcare and for strategic reasons, the working conditions need to receive a state focus. Shortages of personnel must simply become dream jobs, and the state may need to help with what the regions are unable to manage.

What does the Minister for Health and Social Affairs and the government want to do in this area?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Pleasantly enough, many more are applying to, for example, the nursing program. It is very good to see that more people want to work within health and medical care. But they must also want to stay. It must not become a profession where one enters and notices that the work environment is too poor and therefore leaves the profession. Unfortunately, we have seen such tendencies for quite a long time, and too little has been done.

When we now transition from agreements with SKR to regulations, we choose to be very clear about what is to be achieved. One example is the approximately 6 billion that is now being distributed to increase healthcare capacity. One shall increase healthcare capacity, shorten queues, and increase accessibility, and one does so through measures to improve the work environment. The work environment is part three in the regulation regarding what the regions shall work with.

The money can therefore be used with advantage to improve the working environment. Then I believe that one will get more employees who are able to work their full-time hours, who enjoy their work and who stay.

We do in a similar way with the ordinance on good and close care. We use the instruments we have. They are few, but we use them.

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Lina Nordquist (L)

Madam Speaker! Warm thanks, Minister, for the answer!

I have another question in connection with this. It is a bit of a sore point or perhaps a thorn in the side, however one chooses to see it.

We notice in reports and the statistics available that when healthcare succeeds in hiring new staff, all too often they do not hire healthcare-trained personnel but bureaucrats, economists, and administrators. The administration is growing, but healthcare is not growing. The patients are not getting more help.

Does the government agree with me that this must be countered?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Yes, it must be countered, but not because those within the administration are doing a bad job. They often do a fantastic job. The newspaper Vårdfokus from Vårdförbundet – there are also other sources now – has shown that the development has been that more people are hired in number who work far from healthcare than those who work close to it. Those who work in close-care are nursing assistants, medical secretaries, nurses, occupational therapists – yes, you understand. It is them we should hire.

Retaining healthcare staff was therefore the government's direction when we allocated 9 billion in extra support last year due to inflation. We shall maintain this direction.

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Caroline Helmersson Olsson (S)

Madam Speaker! Sweden is in a job crisis. At the same time as unemployment is rising, companies and the public sector are struggling to find trained staff. In the meantime, profit-driven companies are allowed to run wild within adult education. We cannot have that.

The School Inspectorate has pointed out deficiencies in the follow-up, and on January 30, they published a report on the grading. In it, it is clearly stated that economic incentives to award high grades also exist within adult education - grade-fiddling also exists there.

Therefore, I want to ask Education Minister Johan Pehrson if he has any ambition to stop this market failure.

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Utbildningsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! I can assure the questioner that it is central for the government that we have an effective and strong adult education in Sweden. In some respects, it is conducted by actors who obviously, according to this review, have problems conducting it effectively and correctly. So it is clear that when we have a dialogue with those who purchase these services, we will follow up and ensure that we can rectify this.

The school shall, regardless of whether it concerns municipal adult education or any other education, be a place where one receives new opportunities and good knowledge. If grades are to be given, they shall be correct, regardless of whether they are regarded as good or less good.

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Carita Boulwén (SD)

Madam Speaker! There are two biological sexes: male and female. Only women can become pregnant and give birth to children. It is a biological reality that cannot be changed through linguistic rewritings.

Despite this, we see an increase in gender-neutral terms in documents, guidelines, and public records, where words such as "birthing parent" and "the one who has a uterus" replace "woman". A clear example is now found in the investigation on new abortion legislation, where it is proposed that "woman" be replaced with "the one who is pregnant". This means that scientifically correct terms are being replaced through ideologically driven rewritings, something we in Sverigedemokraterna strongly oppose.

My question to the Minister for Health and Care is therefore: Does the Minister consider it reasonable to replace scientifically correct terms with ideological rewritings without biological basis? What consequences does the Minister see that this may have for women's rights and role in Swedish legislation?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Women's rights and not least women's health, which falls within my area, are particularly important issues. That is why we are making major investments. We also ensure that we have an oversight of the decisions so that actual improvements occur. There are areas where women are sidelined and where it cannot be avoided that it is due to gender.

I believe the member is referring to the most recently submitted investigation on home-based care. There was, I believe, complete agreement in the Riksdag that we wanted this investigation, and it has now submitted its proposal. We will look at all the referrals. The referral period will soon expire, and after that, we will return with an announcement on how we will make a balance between the investigation and all the views from the referral bodies.

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Isabell Mixter (V)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs.

But I must begin by pointing out the disrespectful manner in which Mats Persson has addressed the Riksdag. It is unacceptable and not worthy. The Government should have more respect for the Riksdag when answering questions.

But now to my question. In Västernorrland and especially in Sollefteå, many citizens now feel a strong anxiety about what will happen if someone falls ill when essential parts of the hospital there are proposed to be closed. The nearest hospital is two hours away. The Minister is likely well acquainted with the issue as she in the TV4 news urged the region to rethink. It is, I believe, extremely remarkable that a minister in a government that, to use a KD expression, with utter courage has cut back on healthcare, tells regional politicians to rethink.

The Minister's words therefore echo hollowly. Västernorrland needs three hospitals. What is the Minister doing to ensure good care throughout the country?

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TREDJE VICE TALMANNEN

I must remind that questions and comments should concern the ministers' performance of their duties. Answers regarding other matters are also not to be expected.

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Given how the member began, it would have been good to tell the truth. This government has not cut a single krona in healthcare. Last year we gave an extra support to the regions of 9 billion, which was linked to inflation and the pension agreement that had been entered into. We are keeping 2 billion this year. Even Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner stated that it was reasonable with a one-time grant because it was linked to the pension agreement. Now that inflation is down and the regions have 25 billion more because they have lower costs for pensions this year, this was not needed.

We have not cut back on healthcare. On the other hand, we are providing special support to healthcare areas in rural areas. It concerns an extra 300 million, which we presented quite recently, for good and local care, that is, primary care. Västernorrland is among those who will receive a share of the money.

I believe it is wise to take a new approach to the issue in Västernorrland. Everyone must have access to good health and medical care, and soon there will be very many more within the Armed Forces in Sollefteå – more will need medical care.

(Applause)

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Stina Larsson (C)

Madam Speaker! Climate emissions are increasing in Sweden - they are higher now than when the government took office. January this year was the warmest January month ever. It is very worrying. At the same time, we have a government that does not take this seriously but introduces measures that directly increase emissions. So we cannot have that.

All talk about climate investments is shots in the air. The carbon sink in forest and land cannot either compensate for the emissions. The forest shall be utilized - the responsibility cannot be shifted onto the forest owners. The focus is simply placed on the wrong things. Now the government focuses on adapting the climate goals to the EU instead of ensuring that we achieve our goals. The Minister previously mentioned that one should invest in nuclear power. We won't have time to get that finished in five years, by 2030.

Therefore, I pose my question to the Minister for Climate and Environment: What measures will the government take so that we reach the climate goals and reduce emissions by 2030?

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! The Center Party seems to have difficulty understanding the connection between the need for power and electricity and the climate issue. That is well one of the primary reasons why one should not vote for the Center Party, even if the color is green, if one cares about the climate. Obviously, the Center Party still has not understood that the worst thing that could happen to the climate transition in Sweden, the transition that the industrial and transport sectors are currently undergoing, is that clean, fossil-free electricity production is phased out. The decommissioning of nuclear power that has occurred is incredibly unfortunate, and I am very concerned about how we will succeed in expanding both offshore wind power, which takes ten years from start to finish, and nuclear power, to deliver all the electricity needed for the climate transition to be able to increase its pace again.

But if the Centre Party prefers to raise fuel prices and lean back, we will simply have to see if that is what the voters want after the 2026 election.

(Applause)

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

Annika Hirvonen (MP)

Madam Speaker! While all of Sweden gathered in mourning over the massacre in Örebro, Expo noted during the week how comment sections on a right-wing extremist news site allowed for grossly racist statements and demands for more mass murders of immigrants. In the comment sections, a narrative is repeated that immigrants are the root of Sweden's problems and the mass murderer, whose most victims were precisely immigrants, is hailed.

Even though we may never find out what the perpetrator himself was thinking when choosing the murder victim, the fear of racist violence is real—because the hatred is real. Will the government take measures against violence-promoting far-right extremism? And will you also evaluate your own narrative regarding immigration?

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

Utbildningsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! Hat is the basis for very many heinous crimes - murder, terror, oppression of girls, boys and women. Some are ideologically driven, and some can be politically driven.

The government is working on this, not least by us having strengthened the efforts that take place via the Center against violent extremism and that the Swedish Security Service has received increased resources for this. It is crystal clear that we share the interest that this type of extremism should be combated. But I want to warn against drawing conclusions too early and at this stage about exactly how the heinous mass murder in Örebro occurred and whether there would be any ideological motive.

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

David Josefsson (M)

Madam Speaker! The Government is pursuing an offensive housing policy aimed at a reduced regulatory burden for construction, shorter lead times, and more buildable land. The latter – that there is a shortage of buildable land in Sweden – is almost ironic given that we are one of Europe's most sparsely populated countries.

One of the most important reforms to increase buildable land is to reform the shore protection. Sweden is a country with 424,000 kilometers of shoreline, and there is a high demand among the population regarding being able to live near seas and lakes.

The government has now presented a long-awaited bill to, in a first step, implement relaxations in the shore protection around, among other things, smaller watercourses and to, in a second step, appoint a more comprehensive shore protection inquiry. My question to the Minister for Environment and Climate is how she views the timeline for the inquiry and on continued reforms to increase the possibilities to build and live near the shore in Sweden.

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

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, member, for the question! Let us begin with the question "What is a beach?". If one looks at how the coastal protection legislation is applied, one is surprised by what is covered by the coastal protection. It is precisely this that this government wants to look at. How can we, for example, ensure that it is possible to build more in areas and municipalities where it has not previously been exploited to any great extent, but where there may now have been more people, more activity, and a stronger economy? This shall, of course, be done in balance with the environmental qualities that we also work for. This is what the government is looking at.

We have now taken a first step in the right direction, but we will also look at how the municipalities can have more to say when it comes to the application of the shore protection. This work is ongoing. We are working as quickly as we can to carry out this liberalization and make Sweden a little freer.

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

Mikael Oscarsson (KD)

Madam Speaker! We find ourselves in a significantly deteriorated security policy situation. I believe that most here in the chamber have seen that Denmark's intelligence service announced yesterday that if Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine ends with a frozen conflict, we must be prepared that Russia is ready for a major war in our near area within five years. This places demands on us to have a military capability. Nato has set capability requirements on us, and we will receive new ones. It will be challenging for us.

But there are also civil requirements. I know that Nato has set requirements in this area as well. But I now want to pose this question to Acko Ankarberg Johansson, who is the Minister for Health and Care: What is the government doing to implement the requirements regarding mass casualty incidents? Military capability is important, but civil capability is just as important in a difficult security policy situation.

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

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the question! We have taken many measures on the preparedness side. We did so before Natointrädet, and we have continued thereafter. We ensure that we ourselves take measures and that we also provide the conditions for regions and, to some extent, municipalities, which are responsible for some healthcare, to make the preparations that are required.

I visited the NATO headquarters in Brussels myself last spring and was able to have a direct conversation and discuss the whole thing. I thought that I would learn a great deal there, but they said: We are so glad that Sweden and Finland have joined NATO, because you have civil preparedness. You know how to link healthcare with everything that the military does. I thought it was we who were going to learn from them.

They are, of course, very good at military capability. We are happy to be able to cooperate. But they also want cooperation with us, because we have something to contribute.

We help each other and learn from one another. They have a good medical manifesto that has been adopted, and we work according to it. I believe we are well in step regarding the measures that exist, but the challenge remains, given the geopolitical situation.

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

Adrian Magnusson (S)

Madam Speaker! Arbetsförmedlingen came out yesterday with new figures, which show that unemployment is the highest in three years. Long-term unemployment is also increasing, which is particularly worrying. It is now 381,000 people who are registered with Arbetsförmedlingen. At the same time, we have figures from SCB which show that unemployment, i.e., the number of people who want to work, is the highest in ten years and amounts to almost 9 percent. The number of labor market training places is barely 6,000 and remains constantly around that figure despite the rising unemployment.

At the same time, we have a situation in Sweden with major matching problems. There are many sectors where people are sought who can work, but no one can be hired.

It is undeniably a gloomy time on the Swedish labor market. My question to the minister is: What is the minister's judgment on the government's so-called work line?

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

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Adrian Magnusson, for the question, and thank you for your commitment to these issues! Sweden is in a prolonged recession, where we have seen shock-high inflation and very high interest rates, which naturally has laid a wet blanket over the Swedish economy and is also noticeable on the labor market.

Let me supplement the questioner's picture somewhat by saying that today there are 120,000 educational places. It is 120,000 Swedes who will be able to attend a vocational education that leads to a job in healthcare, in industry, or in any of those shortage occupations where people are currently being shouted for. Right now, we are giving more people the opportunity to educate themselves for a job.

It is naturally very important that everyone does their utmost to seek jobs and attend the training that is now offered. But we also see that the economic cycle is turning far off on the horizon.

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

TREDJE VICE TALMANNEN

I remind everyone that all speakers speak through the Speaker. This means that one does not use "you" and "you" and so on.

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

Ulf Lindholm (SD)

Madam Speaker! The latest reports from Arbetsförmedlingen show significant regional differences in unemployment between different parts of Sweden. Kiruna municipality has the country's lowest unemployment level, while Perstorp in Skåne has the highest. At the same time, Skåne has the highest unemployment at the county level, while Västerbotten is the lowest.

According to Arbetsförmedlingen's analysis, unemployment has risen across the country, but the increase is greater in regions that have already previously had high unemployment, which exacerbates regional differences.

In view of this, I would like to ask Minister for Employment and Integration Mats Persson: What measures does the Minister intend to take to reduce regional differences in unemployment and ensure that the labor market policy is effective regarding those regions that are hardest hit by unemployment?

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

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, the questioner, for the question! It is naturally a problem that we have such a large variation in unemployment in Sweden. It is obvious that certain parts have not kept up with the industrial transformation that we have seen occurring, not least in northern Sweden, where there are now very many vacant jobs and the industry is performing strongly. There are parts of the country that have not kept up with this.

The most important thing we can do in this situation is, of course, to ensure that the economy begins to flourish and that the economic wheels turn faster. It will also mean that unemployment will decrease and that we will get reduced regional differences in our country.

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

Andrea Andersson Tay (V)

Madam Speaker! The cancer-causing forever chemicals PFAS are found everywhere in the environment today. People are exposed through drinking water, food, and the things we surround ourselves with in everyday life.

I am pleased that the Minister for Climate and Environment has promised to work towards a ban on these substances at the EU level, and I hope that we can trust that the government stands firm on this despite pressure from the chemical industry.

However, the work against PFAS in Sweden leaves a great deal to be desired. It is a political responsibility to halt the spread, both through bans and through remediation of contaminated areas. All around Sweden, alarms are coming from citizens and municipalities affected by PFAS emissions - Kallinge, Kumla, Uppsala, and Vättern. Often it is state agencies and companies that bear the responsibility for the contamination, but instead of remediating, they let the emissions continue and spread to the drinking water. Affected people feel abandoned, and municipalities are left to handle the costs for the state's emissions of PFAS.

My question to the Minister for Climate and Environment is: What will the government do to address the state's PFAS debt?

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

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! Thanks to the member for a question that I know evokes a strong commitment both within the Left Party as well as in many other parties in the Riksdag and, of course, among the parties in the government, where we are in complete agreement on working for a comprehensive ban in the EU that shall cover, primarily, the chemicals that we come very close to.

We simply have to see how the negotiations proceed. We must also keep in mind not to let perfection stand in the way of the progress that is truly needed in this area.

Sweden and the government will push hard for a comprehensive ban so that we can put a stop to the supply of PFAS toxins in our society, in our environment and for people.

Regarding remediation, it is a very extensive remediation that needs to take place. Everyone can imagine what it is like to clear PFAS toxins from a large area. It is time-consuming. It costs a lot. It will be a task that, despite there being large funds with the authorities, needs to take place over a long period of time.

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

Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)

Madam Speaker! I would like to ask a question to the Minister for Education. I would like to start by thanking you for how you handled the terrible school shooting in Örebro. You convened the Riksdag in a very good way. Thank you for that!

But there is also other things in school. As we have touched upon earlier, we see that there is an enormously rising unemployment during the government's tenure. We see, as the Minister for Employment was touching upon, that komvux is absolutely crucial. But we also see that when it comes to komvux, there have been descriptions from the School Inspectorate regarding risk of crime, payment for grades, "joy grades" etcetera.

It is not good that one can be paid to give passing grades. Without functioning controls, and when one pays for things, there is a risk that this becomes a place where criminals are welcome to take part in the welfare's money. So we cannot have that.

I would like to ask the Minister: Is the government ready to introduce, for example, ownership and management reviews also for komvux and to put a stop to people being paid for approved grades?

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

Utbildningsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question.

When it comes to addressing this problem, I can first say: The Government excludes absolutely nothing. The Government has, however, observed the problems since earlier, and here we have chosen in the budget bill also for this year to strengthen the support to the School Inspectorate so that it can better inspect komvux as well. Komvux is to be a place for knowledge, education, and the future. But that is based on it being of good quality and that the grades awarded are correct.

Here we have also made decisions on regulatory changes in order to be able to stop state grants for education if Skolinspektionen has determined that there are deficiencies.

We are now following up on the tightenings we have made. But we will not exclude anything, because adult education must not either be a playground for criminals.

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

Jacob Risberg (MP)

Madam Speaker! In Sweden, the pace of electrification is slowing down. The share of electric cars in new car sales is decreasing, and LKAB and Volvo are pushing back their electrification goals. The forest's function as a carbon sink is decreasing dramatically. At the same time, emissions from the transport sector are increasing, which means that Sweden's net emissions are the highest in 30 years. When it comes to the work on biodiversity, the government has reduced the appropriations by 600 million kronor compared to when Miljöpartiet was in government. The list can be long.

Minister Pourmokhtari avoids interviews in investigative media. Every time these and other examples are raised, the Minister for the Environment ducks the questions and blames previous governments or chooses instead to talk about nuclear power.

My question to the Minister for Climate and Environment is: Does the Minister have any form of self-criticism regarding the environmental and climate work in Sweden, or does the Minister for Climate and Environment intend to continue to "Baghdad-Bob" through the rest of the mandate period?

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

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! The Green Party seems obviously surprised that a right-wing government is not conducting the Green Party's climate policy. Why am I talking about nuclear power? Perhaps because we believe it is a completely decisive issue for Sweden's future climate transition.

You are talking about Volvo. You are perhaps not talking today about SSAB or about any of the other fossil activities in Sweden, which account for more than a third of our emissions and which want to transition but lack the effect. Therefore, nuclear power is relevant. Therefore, this is climate policy. Therefore, a right-wing government will continue to talk about Sweden having more offshore wind power than it had with the previous government and that Sweden shall have more nuclear power instead of decommissioning nuclear power, as the previous government did.

No, we will not start talking about measures for biodiversity when we talk about climate policy and nuclear power. We mean that this is how Sweden succeeds with its climate transition.

(Applause)

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

TREDJE VICE TALMANNEN

The Speaker reminds, in all humility, of the rules of conduct in the chamber, which apply to everyone.

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

Joanna Lewerentz (M)

Madam Speaker! Sweden is one of the countries that shops online the most. During the month of October alone, 600,000 Swedes shopped from Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Temu and Shein. Many perceive it as if they might be getting a really good deal, but the price is paid by dangerous and illegal chemicals entering the EU and European companies being driven out of business.

It is completely unacceptable that e-commerce platforms in countries outside the EU gain competitive advantages by not following the rules we have agreed upon within the EU, which, according to Svensk Handel, in turn leads to Swedish trading companies being driven out in favor of lowered environmental requirements, dumped social conditions, and more throwaway culture.

I know that the government is working hard to tackle the problems. My question is therefore whether the Minister for Climate and Environment sees that there are measures that should be taken to prevent the import of harmful chemicals to Europe.

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

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! Thanks to the member for the question!

This is an enormously growing problem. It is happening very quickly. We see how consumption patterns among Swedes are shifting. Many products are simply imported from companies that do not follow any requirements or rules and where there is no kind of Swedish or European control of the products.

Something that is important for all consumers to know is that one personally bears responsibility for products that one imports in that manner.

We naturally also need to do a lot from the government's side. We have so far announced that we want to remove the duty-free status for shipments of low value at the EU level - that is one way. We have also initiated a broader work with several relevant departments to simply cover consumer protection, competitiveness and sustainability and address precisely this issue.

At the EU level, it is also about exactly what the member mentions: getting to the intermediaries, the e-commerce platforms. We are also pushing on that at the EU front. But this is truly a priority issue, which we will need to work more on moving forward.

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

Mathias Bengtsson (KD)

Madam Speaker! My question is directed to the Minister for Education in light of the horrific act of violence we saw at Campus Risbergska in Örebro last week.

Many experts are now warning that there may be a risk of further acts of violence, so-called copycats who use similar methods. It is therefore extra important that we strengthen the security around all of Sweden's schools right now.

It could, for example, be about children practicing evacuation. Fire drills are often conducted, but we see examples where in several schools it is only the staff who receive training in evacuation. Naturally, it should also apply to all children.

It can involve different measures to ensure that unauthorized persons do not enter the school. Locked doors, shell protection, fences and railings are different examples.

How does the government view this? What additional measures does the government see as conceivable to simply secure Sweden's schools moving forward?

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Utbildningsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! This raises a multitude of questions. The individual incident, namely the horrific mass murder in my own hometown of Örebro, will naturally lead to the fact that we need to reconsider a multitude of things.

One thing the government has already started with is that we have announced measures against a certain type of weapon. We have also started work to ensure that people who are dangerous to themselves or others do not have weapons.

Work that has been ongoing, but which we announced during the week, is the work to strengthen protection at schools. One must have a contingency plan, and one must work to ensure that unauthorized persons cannot be on site. The work also includes ensuring that one has the possibility to search bags for items that disturb order.

I am completely certain that we will need to talk more about psychiatry. A vast amount of interventions will be needed to ensure that this never happens in Sweden again.

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Sofia Amloh (S)

Madam Speaker! Sweden is in a job crisis. Since the government took office, around 70,000 people have lost their jobs, and the layoffs continue to come one after another.

If the nightmare strikes and one loses their job, the unemployment benefit is a lifesaver. The government has also, in this instance, delivered a death blow that particularly affects women in manual occupations. Cleaners, nursing assistants, and childcare workers are some of the professional groups that will receive a substantial financial blow from Mats Persson's new unemployment benefit. It could amount to several thousand kronor less per month.

A spade is a spade, Madam Speaker, and the government's new accounts are nothing other than a gender equality policy failure.

My question to Mats Persson is: In what way does Sweden become a better country by women who are already having a hard time getting a worse situation?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! It is exactly the opposite – precisely the opposite. The ceiling in the budget is being raised on October 1, 2025, through the decision the Riksdag has taken. That is the policy that the government is now putting forward.

The ceiling in the allowance is raised. Safety increases for people with the proposal the Riksdag has decided on. Safety increases, and the motivation to seek a new job increases. We are therefore increasing safety, and we ensure that people find a new job to go to faster. It is to take responsibility for Sweden in a tough time. It is to ensure that more people get a job to go to and that more people can feel safety.

(Applause)

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

Martin Kinnunen (SD)

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

This summer, the government's three parties commissioned a new species protection inquiry at the Government Offices. It aims for more reasonable regulations in the area, which also take property rights into account.

We have today a situation where landowners can be affected by logging bans without compensation due to species that are fundamentally quite common. We also have sanctuary regulations at the national level that are outdated and do not fulfill their purpose.

This investigation should have been completed by the turn of the year, but nothing has been communicated yet. My question is whether the Minister can account a little for how the work is progressing and what can be expected moving forward.

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

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

The straight answer to the question is that the literal investigation regarding the species protection is not finished yet and simply has not been communicated for that reason. It is also the case that it is a literal investigation, meaning that it is carried out internally at the ministry and that the investigation proposals will not be sent out for consultation but will be prepared within the Government Offices according to standard routines.

All parties in this government believe that there is a problem with the current system. There is a problem in that landowners receive logging bans without receiving compensation for this. There is also an extensive implementation of the species protection legislation that we simply need to review. That work is in full swing at the Government Offices of this government.

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Karin Rågsjö (V)

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

Good and close care feels very far away. The scarce resources mean a strained working environment for those who work in primary care. Without staff who have good working conditions and a good working environment, it will not be possible to realize the intentions of the investment.

The reform on good and close care risks becoming a castle in the air, just like much else in the government's policy. In the analysis plan for the Health and Care Analysis, it clearly states that the prerequisites for the shift towards an expanded primary care are lacking. One example that is highlighted is resources.

Could it be that the government, and therefore also KD, is on its way to heading in the completely wrong direction and surely, as usual, also place the responsibility on the regions?

How does the Minister for Health and Social Affairs view the conditions for primary care to lift long-term investments through larger national initiatives?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! As a Christian Democrat, I would gladly have taken responsibility for that. I would gladly have seen a state healthcare system with state funding and state responsibility.

The law that the Riksdag has decided on, the Health and Medical Services Act, however, states that it is the regions and municipalities that have the responsibility. The Government, on the other hand, ensures support. A few weeks ago, we announced 3.7 billion for just good, local care. There, we also clarified that the supply of competence is an important part of receiving a share of the money. Often, this is the way in to succeed with both increased care capacity and good, local care.

If good conditions for the employees are not provided, it will not work. The National Board of Health and Welfare has, on our behalf, ensured that it has been discussed how many more care beds are needed, but also that the benchmark for us to be able to build a good primary care is approximately 1,100 patients per doctor.

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Kjell Jansson (M)

Madam Speaker! I have a question for Minister Romina Pourmokhtari.

Now the bill on the first step in the reform of the shore protection is ready for consideration in the Riksdag. I want to hear when the second step comes. It concerns the coast and the archipelago and thus very much in Stockholm County, the bench of which I sit on. From a property rights perspective, it is highly important to produce this investigation and the proposals for reform. The Productivity Commission, which has been led by Hans Lindblad, former State Secretary to Anders Borg, has presented many fresh proposals that are well-considered.

My question is: Will the proposals from the Productivity Commission be taken into account?

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Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank Member Kjell Jansson for the question.

The coastal protection is an issue that truly engages the government, and we are doing everything we can to present various proposals as quickly as possible. That is why we did not only take into consideration the single completed part of the first step that we have previously informed about, but also reviewed all possible and conceivable investigated issues that could lead to an improvement of the coastal protection and presented these. It is also the reason why it took a little longer than it could have, and the same applies to our large coastal protection investigation.

We will present a strong reform that will truly be able to address this issue. I, who also previously served as a member for Stockholm County, am very familiar with how this affects, not least our archipelago. We look forward to liberalizing the shore protection, and we are working as quickly as we can to reach the quality we want. It is about actually achieving results that are clear and that provide the effect we want, with more freedom along the Swedish coast.

(Applause)

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Linus Sköld (S)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Johan Pehrson.

The Music Academy in Piteå is part of Luleå University of Technology. During the most recent five-year period, it has led a declining existence, and eight programs have been discontinued. This includes, among others, programs for music teachers, dance teachers and journalists, as well as programs in visual design and stage production. Now, it is also proposed that the audio technology program be phased out.

The issue has given rise to extensive protests. Those protesting are, of course, students and teachers, but it is also the municipal councilors in Piteå municipality. It is the region – even the Moderate opposition council in the region – and the municipal association in Norrbotten. It is the industry, it is the business community in Norrbotten, and it is well-known artists who are raising their voices. The other day, the rector of LTU said in SVT Nyheter that the whole thing is connected to the fact that the money for the artistic educations is not sufficient.

Is the slow decommissioning of the Music Academy in Piteå, so to speak, a desirable development for this government, or does Johan Pehrson intend to act?

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Utbildningsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! For the government, the investment in higher education is central. Major reinforcements have been made to STEM education, that is to say engineering education and technical education. We have also followed up on this with investments to strengthen the quality within the hum-sam area.

We know that the price tags today are often higher for the type of education that Linus Sköld here highlights. May I say that, Madam Speaker – Linus Sköld? I want it to be correct; one doesn't want to be scolded by the Speaker! The price tags are, therefore, higher, and I am following this very closely. There may be reasons to return to this. I have been clear that for investments in technology and science within STEM, a focus is also required on the arts, and that is where the education now mentioned belongs. Let us, therefore, return to it!

Question time was hereby concluded.

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