Question Time

FÖRSTE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions today will be answered by Minister for Defence Pål Jonson, Minister Anna Tenje, Minister Niklas Wykman and Minister Andreas Carlson.

Question Time

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

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Aylin Nouri (S)

Mr. Speaker! Thousands of people in Sweden have had their driver's licenses revoked and thus lost work, security, and livelihood despite not having committed any crimes. The Transport Agency has used PEth tests, which have been widely questioned by experts for lacking reliability and legal certainty.

We are talking about people like Linn, an ambulance nurse who every day blows into an alcohol lock before getting behind the wheel. Yet she lost her driver's license and her job because of tests that did not show reality.

The Transport Agency has itself acknowledged that the current management has shortcomings and that the regulatory framework needs to be changed. Nevertheless, they refuse to review previous decisions.

My question to the Minister for Infrastructure is: How long does the government intend to remain passive in the face of this failure, and why has it not yet tasked the Transport Agency to review the decisions and provide redress to those affected?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you very much, Aylin Nouri, for the question!

There are more examples that have been highlighted. I understand that it raises questions and that there is frustration, but I know that the members of the chamber are aware that I, as a minister, cannot comment on individual cases.

What I can comment on is the work that is already underway at the Transport Agency to update the rules governing the medical requirements regarding alcohol and narcotics for holding a driver's license. The updates will lead to the rules being clarified, and the assessment is that it will lead to fewer driver's license revocations.

It is important for the government to obtain clarifications in the situation that has arisen as soon as possible. Therefore, tomorrow I will have a meeting with the Director General of the Transport Agency, where I expect to receive an account of the work to update the regulatory framework and, not least, a report on the timeline for how this is to be implemented as quickly as possible.

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Aylin Nouri (S)

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

I welcome that the Minister has expressed a desire to act. But as the Minister knows, this undermines the rule of law in our country and the trust our citizens have towards the state and the work that is ongoing with road safety, so much clearer statements are needed here.

My follow-up question is: Exactly what does the Minister intend to do, and when can those affected expect to receive a review of decisions based on an incorrect basis?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you very much, Aylin Nouri, for noting the commitment that the government has in this issue!

It is a responsibility that lies with the Transport Agency, and therefore I have invited the Director General to a meeting where I expect an account of the timeline for measures that would lead to fewer people losing their driver's licenses in this way.

An important question is how one regains a driver's license based on the new rules, which are now being updated. It is a question that I will, of course, pose to the Director General tomorrow. I suspect that it will also be posed to the Director General by the Committee on Transport next week.

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Carita Boulwén (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister of Defence.

Sollefteå Hospital has already lost its maternity services. Now, anesthesia, surgery, intensive care, pediatric medicine, and hospital beds are also being phased out. This means that an inland hospital is, in practice, losing its ability to handle serious conditions.

The hospital serves a vast area in the interior where distances are long, road standards are uneven, and winter conditions are often difficult. For many, it involves a journey of several hours to the nearest care.

This is not just a question of healthcare. It is about security and patient safety and retaining competence in areas that already have difficulty recruiting.

My question to the Minister is: What responsibility does the state have when a strategic inland hospital such as the one in Sollefteå is dismantled, and what does the government intend to do to secure the care and the staff's conditions in these parts of the country?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the question.

It was the case that 21 in Sollefteå was re-established in connection with the defense decision in 2020. The activities there are moving forward, and they have succeeded well with the recruitment. It is naturally good for Sweden's defense, but above all, it creates conditions for regional growth.

When it comes to the design of healthcare, it is a matter for the region. It is not a matter for me as minister or for the government as such.

What I have gathered is that it has been difficult to recruit to the hospital and that this could be one of the grounds for the movement. But this is a regional issue. It is not an issue for me as Minister for Defence or for the government as a whole.

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Carita Boulwén (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Total defense requires that civil and military preparedness are interconnected.

Sollefteå Hospital near I 21 has an obvious place in the defense structure that is now being built up in northern Sweden. To simultaneously dismantle the healthcare preparedness contradicts the purpose, and that other parties, despite being aware of this, propose closure is remarkable.

The Sweden Democrats' position is clear: Sollefteå hospital should be preserved and given a formal role as a preparedness hospital. My follow-up question is whether the minister is prepared to take the initiative for this and what the government intends to do in the matter.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! What we are implementing are measures to strengthen care, the resilience of care, and the healthcare sector as such.

The government has allocated 2 billion in sector grants to strengthen healthcare. We have distributed 3.7 billion through increased state grants to meet the need for good and equal care and 5.9 billion to the regions. But these are overarching measures. The position we have is that this is a regional issue and not a state issue for the government.

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Isabell Mixter (V)

Mr. Speaker! Yesterday I spoke with Maria, who has received a demand for repayment from Försäkringskassan of 800,000 kronor on 50 percent of her sick leave from 2019 until today – this as a result of a tip from a member of the public to Försäkringskassan that Maria had a craft page on Instagram, which Försäkringskassan takes as income because Maria has had work capacity during this time despite completed work capacity tests, medical certificates, visits to an occupational therapist and so on which confirm that Maria has not had any work capacity during this time.

I understand that the Minister cannot answer regarding individual cases, but Maria's case is not unique. It has been noted on several occasions that people who have practiced yoga and other leisure activities have been deprived of their sickness benefit, despite it being established in the Försäkringskassan guidelines that it is compatible with sick leave.

How does the Minister ensure that Försäkringskassan does not withdraw sickness allowance or sickness compensation on incorrect grounds?

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks for the question from Member Isabell Mixter!

That it should be easy to do the right thing is a consistent focus we have regarding both Försäkringskassan and Pensionsmyndigheten. One must provide correct information. If everything is correct and proper, one should also be able to receive compensation. If one is ill, one should feel secure knowing that one has a sickness benefit to rely on and fall back on.

There are many different ways to reinforce this, not least by ensuring that it is easy to do the right thing. There also need to be more paths back to work. Försäkringskassan is working very focusedly on this. The agency has a mandate in the regulatory letter to focus on these things: Those who are entitled to sickness benefit shall receive it, and the paths back to work shall be many.

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Isabell Mixter (V)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer, even though she does not quite answer my question on how one ensures that it is legally secure for the individual.

The case of Maria and other cases that have been highlighted regarding clawbacks raise questions about the time aspect. How far back in time can it be reasonable to impose a clawback on a person when there is no obvious intent from the citizen to deceive the system and Försäkringskassan has simply changed its assessment? How far back is one allowed to go?

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Mr. Speaker! Regardless of whether we are talking about sickness benefit or guaranteed pension, it is important that it is easy to do the right thing and that it is safe and secure. The system must also be predictable. One should be able to access the information in a simple way from both the Försäkringskassan and Pensionsmyndigheten side so that we know that the money ends up in the right pockets. Right now, we have a fairly large problem with increased organized crime and benefit crime. We have increased the number of controls and added more funds and more resources to the authorities precisely so that the right money ends up in the right pockets. It remains a focus for us.

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Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist (C)

Mr. Speaker! The Centre Party stands up for a strong Swedish defense throughout the country but also knows that the defense of the future is not only shaped on the training grounds and in the large industrial halls but also in basements and tech hubs with startups driven by entrepreneurs with radical ideas.

In the government's strategy for defense innovation, there is fine talk about cooperation, openness, and groundbreaking technology, but a report from the Security and Defense Companies shows something else. Small and newly started companies repeatedly encounter closed doors. Despite their high-level expertise and willingness to contribute, they are not even given the chance for dialogue with either the Armed Forces or FMV. They drown in permit requirements, long lead times, and a culture that scares away rather than lets in.

My question to the Minister of Defence is: Can Sweden really afford to let startups with groundbreaking technology stand on the outside, even though they want to and can contribute already today?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for an important question. Can Sweden afford not to have startups in the defense sector? The answer is a clear no.

Does the government then take a number of measures on this side? Yes, we definitely do. We have tasked FMV to work with defense innovation procurement. One shall work more with what is called SME companies. Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist naturally knows well how important that sector is. Often, the smaller companies are spin-offs from large ones. They have a high degree of innovation. We have opened up for a civil-military development program in the technology area to bring in new civil startups that shall work with the Armed Forces. We also have a defense innovation council which I myself lead. SME companies are included there.

I dare to assert that the government is working very systematically to bring in more civilian companies and smaller companies that are extremely innovative so that we can achieve stronger defense innovation.

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Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist (C)

Mr. Speaker! We have now once again heard about the government's many good ambitions, but it is not enough with just strategy documents and business advice. Right now, small and innovation-driven companies want to be involved in defending Sweden. But they find a system that is not at all built for their reality. I wonder: How are startups to be included in the defense transition that we need? As the Minister says, we cannot afford to turn away from innovation, especially not when it is knocking at the door and wants to be involved here and now.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! Sweden has all the prerequisites to be a world leader. We have an enormously innovative civil sector that we are now working very hard to also bring into the military sector; there need to be more, and that sector needs to grow.

An expression of our success in this area is NATO's Diana for small and medium-sized enterprises: Of 75 companies selected within the 32 member countries, 5 were from Sweden, so we are very well positioned even within NATO. There are also good conditions to work within the EU with the MIP program, which is directly targeted at small companies and startups.

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Malte Tängmark Roos (MP)

Mr. Speaker! The housing allowance is one of the most accurate tools the state has to support households with low incomes. The current system with annual means-testing, however, often leads to repayment demands for people whose incomes vary during the year, for example, students and hourly workers. In 2023, as many as 39 percent of households were liable for repayment. The risk of becoming liable for repayment also causes a large group of people not to even apply for the allowance, even though they might be eligible for it.

In 2023, a government inquiry proposed that the housing allowance should be based on current monthly data from the Swedish Tax Agency's employer declarations; in this way, the risk of clawbacks and debt among households receiving housing allowance would be reduced. According to the inquiry, clawbacks could be reduced by more than 90 percent through this reform, and more students and others with insecure and varying incomes would dare to apply for housing allowance.

My question to Minister for Social Insurance Anna Tenje is therefore: When will the government present a concrete proposal to introduce monthly figures for the calculation of the housing allowance?

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks to Member Malte Tängmark Roos for a very pertinent question! I fully and completely share the Member's description of how good it would be if one could work in a simpler and more efficient way and share information between authorities to a significantly greater extent. If the correct data is entered into the systems, the risk of incorrect payments that generate clawbacks, which are at a high level today, is reduced. Having monthly data for, for example, the housing allowance is something that we have signaled in the budget and that we are working hard to achieve.

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Malte Tängmark Roos (MP)

Mr. Speaker! I am very pleased to hear that the government plans to return with such a proposal, which the Green Party and civil society are requesting. The question is why it is being delayed. The proposal has already been investigated and referred. It was finished two years ago. It should, in principle, be possible to implement immediately. Why does the government not plan to introduce monthly reviews already now by the mid-year change or at least by the turn of the year 2025/26?

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks for the follow-up question from the Member!

The Chairman himself almost puts his finger on it. It should work, he says. Yes, it should work. But the technical systems and the IT systems need to be upgraded. We need to build the system so that it can be used in a simple and efficient way.

But the question is not whether this should happen, but when. We are working hard on it, because I truly believe that it would solve many problems and furthermore prevent many families from finding themselves in a situation that was definitely not the intention.

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Caroline Högström (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question also goes to Minister Anna Tenje.

The proportion of those on long-term sick leave remains at high levels, and I am particularly concerned that many sick leaves are becoming longer. Previously, there was an opportunity for work assessment, an opportunity that was removed in 2016. But I note that the government is now proceeding with the proposal for the possibility of work assessment with maintained sickness benefit.

What does the Minister believe this can make a difference for people on their way back to work?

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks, Member Högström, for a very important and good question!

I can gladly inform the Chamber that the government as recently as today made a decision to proceed with precisely the possibility of work trials for persons who have full-time sick leave and sickness allowance.

Just as the member describes, there was previously an opportunity for an individual who had sickness benefit to return to work. Without risking the sickness benefit and without the employer having to bear the cost, one had the opportunity to return, socialize at the workplace without requirements, and try out working. That opportunity has been gone since 2016. We on the government's side thought that was wrong, and now we are creating that opportunity again – precisely so that more people can find ways back to the labor market and return to work.

(Applause)

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Caroline Högström (M)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks for the answer, Minister!

I agree that this can become another tool to counter unnecessarily long sick leaves and strengthen the return to work. Can the Minister tell us something more about the government's work to reduce sick leaves – perhaps especially of women, who are often affected by just long sick leaves?

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you very much, Member, for the follow-up question! This is undeniably an issue that we both care very much about.

The unnecessarily numerous and long sick leaves are, as said, increasing. It is particularly women in the middle of life who are often affected by mental stress and pressure and then receive a sick leave instead of proper care and treatment. This is what we want to reverse. We naturally want to give them better conditions to return to work and have a working life. Here the paths are many and great, and in the budget for 2025, we have a whole repertoire of measures precisely so that people will return to work.

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Dan Hovskär (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I would like to ask a question to Minister Anna Tenje.

We constantly need to increase safety and counteract the risk of elderly and people with disabilities being subjected to crime in their own homes or in special housing. In order to increase safety for these persons within elderly care and LSS, some municipalities are currently requesting extracts from the criminal record before employment, even though the legal basis for this is somewhat unclear. An investigation with proposals on how this can be done was presented in October 2024 and has recently been out for consultation.

What is the Minister's timeline for the bill in this important area, and what other important matters are underway to increase safety for these groups?

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks, Member Dan Hovskär, for a very important and pressing question!

Everyone should be able to feel safe and secure in their own homes and know who it is they are letting over the threshold. This applies especially when one is older and in need of help and support, or for that matter, when one has different functional variations and has help.

For me, it was very important to work on the issue of background checks and create that possibility for the country's municipalities. Therefore, we are already this summer providing clear legal support for municipalities to perform background checks, and we are also working on a rapid investigation to see if we should actually take the step and make it mandatory to request extracts from the criminal records registers – just as it is within school and preschool today, which for me is quite obvious.

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Dan Hovskär (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer.

That sounds positive. As the Minister himself pointed out, the investigation shall state that it should be possible for municipalities to request register checks. I look forward to things being in motion and that we can increase the safety for these groups, who may feel extra vulnerable in society. I thank you very much for the answer.

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks for the comment that the member gave!

I think this is an important and pressing issue. I would, however, like to emphasize that while the municipalities are now given the opportunity to request extracts from the burden register and it may eventually be made mandatory – perhaps they should also look into the suspicion register – it is extremely important that the municipalities carry out proper reference checks and proper interviews to ensure that they get the right person in the right place. Our elderly should be able to feel safe and secure in their homes.

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Patrik Karlson (L)

Mr. Speaker! I will direct my question to Minister Andreas Carlson.

The possibility of putting a stop to someone else's construction plans has never been greater than today. Now, an objection based on the presence of bats or other protected species in the development area can be sufficient to delay, increase the cost of, and in the worst case, stop a project. This is shown in a new judgment from the Land and Environment Court of Appeal.

The much-noted judgment means that the person seeking a preliminary decision can now be forced to produce and pay for an investigation as soon as someone claims that a protected species may be present in the area, even if the claim itself is vague. For both private individuals and companies, this further raises the threshold for new construction, and the path from the first application to actual construction start risks, as stated, becoming both more expensive, longer, and more uncertain. Not least, this could cause more construction projects to fall through already in the planning phase.

What is being hit upon is not the possibility of appealing in itself; on the contrary, it is something that must exist. But my question is: Does the Minister intend to act on the issue to level out this imbalance between the one who appeals and the one who wants to build?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! There are very many different obstacles that today affect housing construction negatively. The Government began work on day one and has, at a high pace, initiated measures to make buildable land available in attractive locations, shorten lead times, and simplify regulations.

Regarding the specific issue that the member raises, Mr. Speaker, it is naturally the case that the protection for protected animals should not be able to be used as a pretext by neighbors who want to stop a permitted construction project. The Government decided on January 16 this year on an additional directive to the Environmental Permit Investigation where the issue that is current in this case shall be clarified from a detailed plan perspective. It is of course important that the work is now proceeding in the investigation that has been appointed for the purpose of removing obstacles to residential construction, so that all of Sweden can function.

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Patrik Karlson (L)

Mr. Speaker! I would like to thank the Minister for the answer and for his engagement in this serious issue.

Briefly, I just want to state that as has been said, we find a balance in this process where we ensure that we protect our peaceful species while they are not used as a tool to stop new construction and growth in our country. It is good that one has now moved forward with this additional directive, but could the Minister give a small indication as to when a decision in this matter will be able to come from the government's side?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I understand that Patrik Karlson is impatient – I am too, and many others are as well. There is much that should have been in place a long time ago when it comes to reforms that simplify construction and clarify and make clear the regulatory framework.

Just as the member says, it is not the case that anyone is against the fact that one should be able to appeal. One should be able to do that, but it needs to be able to happen in a balanced way. It is important that the investigation is now working at a high pace according to the plan it has. Then we will be able to rectify some of the obstacles that exist for housing construction in Sweden.

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Kalle Olsson (S)

Mr. Speaker! The Government recently announced the preliminary frameworks for the county plans. For Jämtland County, which is my constituency, the announcement is a great disappointment. We are talking about an addition from the Government of 120 million kronor over the coming twelve years. Broken down per year, it becomes 10 million, which gives – hold on to your hats – 500 meters of bicycle path per year. This is what we are talking about. So this is the outcome of the Government's so-called historically large investment in the roads for my constituency.

This proposal means that the county will be even further behind the rest of the country when it comes to road standards and road safety. While we in Jämtlands län can build an extra 500 meters of cycle path, there are other counties where they do not even have time to finish using the funds.

My question to Minister Carlson is how he intends to act so that the infrastructure gap between city and country does not continue to increase.

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Kalle Olsson for the question.

The increase that our government is making in the county plans is significantly larger than before. We are adding 20 percent more to the county plans. In the previous national plan, for which Kalle Olsson's government at the time was responsible, they only contributed 8 percent. Of course, it is possible to have a discussion looking backward, but the discussion forward is more important.

I believe it is important to clarify that the historically large investment we are now making also hits the county plans. Specifically for Jämtland, Mr. Speaker, it is important to see the historically large investment we are making on road maintenance. Jämtland is one of the areas in Sweden where it looks worst of all when it comes to road maintenance.

Now, for the first time, we have a plan to eliminate the maintenance debt for road maintenance across the entire country. It will, of course, be a very important measure to build up Sweden and increase cohesion, and so that one can travel to different places without worrying that the car will break down because the roads are in such poor condition.

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Bo Broman (SD)

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

A few weeks ago, BankID suffered an extensive operational disruption following an overload attack, which led to millions of Swedes being unable to identify themselves digitally for several hours. This week, a similar incident occurred, this time directed at Swish, which once again highlighted the vulnerability in our digital payment infrastructure.

BankID and Swish are central parts of the everyday functions of Swedish society. When these services are taken out, it affects not only individual consumers but also companies, authorities, and society-critical services. These recurring attacks raise concerns about digital security and preparedness within the financial sector. This also shows the importance of cash continuing to be available as a functioning reserve during IT disruptions.

What measures does the government intend to take to ensure the operational security and robustness of Sweden's digital payment systems, and how does the Minister view the need for cash as a complement during such disruptions?

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Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Bo Broman, for the questions!

When it comes to cash, we have an important project in the Tidösamarbetet where an investigation has reviewed the need for cash. We are continuing to work on this to ensure that the system has the type of robustness and resilience that is needed.

Cash can of course play an important role. Another significant part can be other types of offline payments. It is important that banks and the financial sector as a whole move forward with solutions in this area.

The questioner also pointed out the many vulnerabilities that exist in our digital systems. In this area, it is not only we in Sweden who are under pressure. There are new EU regulations here – the DORA Regulation – which have started to apply. We also have a proposal that has been investigated, which we are continuing to work on, regarding how operational disruptions should be handled. There is also ongoing work on how state identification should be handled.

Here, massive measures are being taken against massive problems.

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Ciczie Weidby (V)

Mr. Speaker! I turn to the Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Andreas Carlson.

The government we have now speaks time and again about the work line, which means that people should be prepared to move to where the jobs are. I wonder how, for example, a nursing assistant or a construction worker can take a job in a city where the rents are sky-high, if there are any housing available, and the bus or train doesn't run at all. They continue to lean on the fact that it is the market that is supposed to solve all of this, but it has demonstrably failed.

How does the government's policy align with a policy that places harsh demands on the individual to move to where the jobs are when the individual cannot do so and one does not take responsibility for the social structure?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Ciczie Weidby, for the question! I shall answer with two examples.

The historically large investment we are making in infrastructure – 1,171 billion kronor represents an increase of 27 percent compared to the current national plan, if calculated in the same way – enables investments that ensure one can rely on being able to transport oneself to and from work. Just commuting is a priority, together with freight traffic. It is an important foundation in the work of upgrading Swedish infrastructure.

The government has also provided capital injections to Norrlandsfonden to help promote housing construction with a top-loan function so that calculations can work out in establishment and transition municipalities. Last week I was in Ludvika, where it can be seen that 160 new homes can be completed faster thanks to this accurate mechanism. It is another example of the government's work so that more people can move there where there are jobs.

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Anne-Li Sjölund (C)

Mr. Speaker! Freedom of association is constitutionally protected; everyone shall have the right to engage in an association. But in practice, it is the banks that decide which non-profit organizations are given the opportunity to conduct activities. Many youth organizations, especially those with underage boards or with an ethnic and religious profile, are denied bank accounts or face unreasonable obstacles, fees, and waiting times.

This affects the entire civil society. It hits those with the worst conditions the hardest. Without an account, associations cannot receive grants, for example from MUCF, municipalities or regions, pay rent for premises or conduct activities at all. Several reports from civil society confirm that this is a growing problem, but so far the government has chosen to focus solely on private individuals' right to a bank account in the investigations.

My question goes to Niklas Wykman. What does the government intend to do to ensure that non-profit organizations are also guaranteed access to basic banking services?

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Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

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

This is called de-risking in regulatory language – financial institutions push away risk in various ways. That is, of course, not how it should be. The right controls must be in place, and private individuals, companies, and associations must have the right opportunities to operate within the financial system. For this, there is both EU work and national work.

However, one simply cannot ignore the underlying motives and reasons why we need order and tidiness, why we need supervision and control, and why we cannot go back to hope and play in the financial systems. This is because there are very powerful forces that wish our society ill. These forces can also use non-profit organizations to collect money for crime, launder criminal profits, or otherwise harm our society.

It is simply a matter of a balance between different interests. That there should only be commitment to one is not correct.

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Mats Berglund (MP)

Mr. Speaker! A little over a year ago, I asked Social Insurance Minister Anna Tenje how it was going with converting the SGI investigation into a government bill. Many have waited a long time for a more just way to calculate the income basis for sickness benefit. It concerns cultural creators but also our elite athletes, whom we gladly follow via our television sets. They often have quite tight financial conditions. It could be about researchers, who live on temporary incomes and short scholarships before they get a permanent position or a lectureship. It could also be about gig workers, hourly substitutes, or all those who for one reason or another end up outside the system and are zeroed out in the system from one day to the next. We also have sole traders and combinators. All of these need a new system for calculating SGI based on historical incomes.

I want to ask Anna Tenje: Will a government bill be submitted during the mandate period?

(Applause)

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

Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks for the question, Member Mats Berglund!

It is correct that it was approximately one year ago that the member posed this question to me. The answer then was that work is ongoing in the Government Offices and that we are preparing the matter.

Mr. Speaker! The investigation that was placed on my desk was not complete. It was a massive investigation that was eager to solve many problems but which did not in all cases deliver the actual solutions.

A great deal of work is required here because it is a very complicated system, and it is important that it becomes correct and proper and that the right drivers are in place.

Mr. Speaker! My answer is therefore also today that preparation is ongoing in the Government Offices.

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

Mats Green (M)

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

Last week, Spain's entire power system failed, which had enormous consequences for Spanish society. The power system there is almost entirely surrendered to weather-dependent power generation, and it was precisely such a power system that the red-green opposition tried to impose on the Swedes, with power shortages and volatile electricity prices as a result.

All this shows that baseload power, such as nuclear power, is absolutely necessary for Swedish industry and Swedish welfare. It is also why the Riksdag stands ready to, within just a few weeks, make a decision on the financing of new nuclear power in Sweden.

Can the Minister for Finance briefly explain how the system for financing new nuclear power is intended to work?

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! I heard a light laugh from my government colleagues because there is a lot to explain in one minute. But generally, there is a new hope and great joy in Swedish society that households and industry will get back stable electricity prices. There have come joyful shouts from both the industry that wants to be part of building new nuclear power and the trade union movement, with LO, IF Metall and others, as they see that this is a key not only to stable and environmentally friendly energy production but also to increased competitiveness and new jobs in Sweden.

The idea behind it is simple. One should combine the state's ability to borrow cheaply with the companies' ability to produce efficiently. Then, one ensures that electricity is created at as low a price as possible with as stable conditions as possible so that one can return to a unique competitive advantage for Swedish industry, Swedish jobs, and Swedish households.

(Applause)

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

Camilla Rinaldo Miller (KD)

Mr. Speaker! No one has surely missed that Region Västernorrland has taken the fateful decision to close the hospital in Sollefteå. It will mean major deteriorations for the residents in the region regarding access to safe care and timely care. Or as a woman wrote to me yesterday: We are many who live and work here. If the hospital closes, many must move – many with sick children as well as elderly people with multiple illnesses. This decision is not well-thought-out, and it does not benefit the welfare. Listen to those who know the matter: the doctors, the municipality, and the defense!

The deterioration of access to healthcare is also worrying from a preparedness perspective. My question to Defense Minister Pål Jonson is therefore: Does the Minister share mine and the Christian Democrats' concern that the closure of hospitals weakens access to local healthcare in the event of an extraordinary incident?

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

Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

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

It is obvious that there is a great commitment to Sollefteå Hospital, and I respect that. But it is neither my nor the government's responsibility to identify what type of activities should take place at the hospital; rather, it is a regional matter. Let me emphasize that.

In the handling of the issue, the Armed Forces have been given the opportunity to comment through the Northern Military Region, and I believe that the Surgeon General has also commented and made a consequence assessment.

So, to the broader question of whether it is important for Swedish preparedness to have a strong healthcare system. Yes, generally speaking, it is, and Acko Ankarberg Johansson is working intensively on these issues. The Government has also taken a number of measures to strengthen healthcare capacity in both peace as well as crisis and war.

But again: It is not the government's responsibility to decide on the operations at Sollefteå Hospital, which, for the record, shall remain. That happens regionally.

(Applause)

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

Sanne Lennström (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Anna Tenje.

Rents and food costs have dug deep holes in child-rearing families' bank accounts. Seven years ago, the Social Democratic-led government increased the child allowance. At that time, the allowance covered 36 percent of a ten-year-old's living costs, minus housing costs. Today, Swedbank's report shows that the child allowance covers 25 percent. Sweden is also the only country in the Nordic region that has not increased the child allowance.

Despite the fact that Sweden's families with children are having a very tough time financially, the government is reluctant to increase the child allowance. Why?

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

Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks to Sanne Lennström for a good question!

The government has supported households during a very difficult time. Inflation has dug deep holes in both the households' and Sweden's economy, and therefore it has been urgent and important to fight inflation. I am not saying that we have won, but now inflation is at least down to a more normal level, which is very pleasing for Sweden's households.

Furthermore, one can refuel the car for ten kronor less than one could when the government took office. This is of great significance, not least for households with several children.

The measures the government has taken have, from a household economy perspective, had the greatest effect for the tenth who have it toughest. Distributionally, we have therefore compensated.

But there is great uncertainty in our world, and the economic situation is difficult. The Government is therefore following this issue very closely.

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

Rashid Farivar (SD)

Mr. Speaker! According to many reports in the media, a growing number of people are losing their driver's licenses after being tested with the so-called PEth test, even though they have not been drunk. A number of members in the chamber have noted the problem, and the Director General of the Transport Agency has been called to the Transport Committee for this reason.

I am aware that Minister Andreas Carlson has initiated work to rectify the situation, but given how serious consequences this has for many individuals, I ask: What measures does the Minister intend to take to ensure that those who have had their driving licenses revoked on incorrect grounds receive redress?

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

Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Rashid Farivar for the question.

I answered a similar question earlier during the question period, and the answer now is the same as then: The Government considers it very important to get a clarification as soon as possible.

I will tomorrow have a meeting with the Director General of the Transport Agency to receive a description of and an account of the work currently underway to update the rules governing the medical requirements regarding alcohol and drugs for holding a driving license. The assessment is that the updated rules will lead to fewer driving licenses being revoked.

I will also request an account of the timeline for the implementation and hope that this can be put in place as quickly as possible.

I will, of course, also ask the pressing question regarding which rules will apply for regaining a driver's license.

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

Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)

Mr. Speaker! I remain on the same issue that we have just left.

The Minister for Infrastructure shall meet the Director General of the Transport Agency. That is very good. We have had a discussion about the Peth tests and the consequences of these in a previous interpellation debate here in the chamber. At that time, the Minister for Infrastructure gave approximately the same answer as now, that it is not so good but that it will get better later. The big question is: When is later?

In the current situation, it still states on the Transport Agency's website that it will take a long time. This falls under the Minister for Infrastructure's area of responsibility. That it will take a long time is what the Transport Agency itself says, but the people who have lost their driver's licenses even though they should not have lost them do not have a long time. It is their job, their everyday life, their family life etcetera that is affected.

My question is therefore: Will the Minister for Transport, at the meeting tomorrow, ensure that it does not take a long time?

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

Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! We have had a discussion in the chamber earlier, the member and I, where I accounted for Transportstyrelsen's ongoing work. The assessment is that it will lead to significantly fewer recalls.

I am not satisfied with the answer that it will take a long time. However, I have no answer today as to how long it will take. This is a responsibility that lies with Transportstyrelsen, according to regulation, but it is of course urgent to get a clarification as soon as possible.

It is about both an account of the ongoing work and, not least, the timeline for implementation and also, as I said in my answer to the previous question, Mr. Speaker, about the possibility of regaining a revoked driver's license based on the new updated regulations and how it shall be made as simple, transparent and clear as possible.

I understand that there is concern and frustration. I take that very seriously, and that is why tomorrow I will have a meeting with the Director General of the Transport Agency regarding this issue.

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

Märta Stenevi (MP)

Mr. Speaker! In the Instrument of Government, Chapter 1, Section 2, it is established that public power shall be exercised with respect for all people's equal value and for the individual person's freedom and dignity.

Yesterday, the Sweden Democrats' Member of Parliament Richard Jomshof wrote that he hoped Member of Parliament Daniel Riazat would "go home." To tell racialized Swedes to go home is a classic racist tactic to signal that not all Swedish citizens are equally Swedish. But, Mr. Speaker, Sweden is the home of me, Daniel Riazat, the Speaker, and all Swedish citizens.

I would therefore like to ask Minister Pål Jonson: Does the government share the Sweden Democrats' view on racialized Swedish citizens, or can the Minister here and now condemn the deeply racist statement from a leading representative of the government base?

(Applause)

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

Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Märta Stenevi, for the question!

I must honestly say that I am not familiar with the statement, and I am also not familiar with the government having taken any position there. I must ask to be allowed to come back in one way or another. I actually do not know the statement.

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

Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)

Mr. Speaker! A week ago, a very pleasant announcement arrived: Västflyg, in cooperation with several actors, is taking an important step in connecting Växjö and Bromma with direct flights. Today, another much-awaited and pleasant announcement arrived: Visby gets direct flights to Bromma again, also in cooperation with actors on the island who see both that it is important that residents, staff, and customers can travel quickly and smoothly in and out of the island and that tourism is vital for the business community to do well and flourish throughout the year.

Through these happy messages, the country is tied together, and with investments in domestic aviation, we see activity at Bromma again which shortens the lead time. Just my journey to the island, from door to door, is shortened by half – half!

Here we see cooperation when it is at its very best, and now it is a matter of the society rallying. I would like to hear the Minister for Infrastructure's view on these latest collaborative projects, which promote Swedish domestic aviation.

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

Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you very much, Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage, for the question!

It is of course positive with entrepreneurs who want to invest in Swedish infrastructure and who see opportunities where others perhaps see problems. I welcome all such initiatives.

What the government is doing to strengthen the infrastructure in Sweden, the transport system as a whole and specifically aviation, which is the question at hand, is to view the transport system as a whole and not to pit different modes of transport against each other.

We have more than doubled the support for the regional airports. At the mid-year turn, the harmful aviation tax is removed. We have provided support that also handles part of the costs from the pandemic, which affected both air travelers and aviation as a whole.

Aviation is important in our elongated country, which is dependent on reliable, robust and – when it comes to the development of aviation – increasingly sustainable transport. This is, of course, something that the government is working on, so that all of Sweden can function.

(Applause)

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

Björn Wiechel (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Wykman.

Now, money laundering is being conducted on "nearly industrial scale." So says the Economic Crime Authority in its latest report on economic crime. It concerns 100–150 billion kronor in crime profits every year, and it is growing. The authority also points out that certain industries are particularly affected, such as banks, construction, and welfare.

We Social Democrats have raised this issue several times and have, among other things, proposed that a higher level of punishment for economic crime should be introduced and that a deeper review should be conducted of particularly vulnerable industries. This the SD government has not complied with, but has voted down.

Now the Economic Crime Authority is presenting its very serious report and confirms what we have put forward. Should the SD government not listen to it and take further measures in the area, such as introducing a higher level of punishment for economic crimes and scrutinizing vulnerable industries?

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Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! Björn Wiechel might perhaps start by addressing a government that exists. It is a good way to be able to get answers. It actually becomes quite silly, especially when it concerns real and serious problems such as money laundering.

It is good that the Social Democrats are now highlighting these issues. The question is what they did about them when they were in power. Organized crime was allowed to eat its way deep into Swedish society. One consequence of that is money laundering. It drains common welfare systems of money, plagues people's lives, commits fraud against the elderly, and uses dubious methods for telephone sales and other things.

This was allowed to go very far. Intense work is currently underway in Sweden and at the EU level. We have already talked about parts of it earlier today – that better control and more surveillance are needed. We are not unfamiliar with harsher penalties. On the contrary, we should have had them earlier.

(Applause)

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

Daniel Persson (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Anna Tenje.

From and with 1 January 2025, new legislation will be in place, which gives Försäkringskassan access to information that employers have reported to Skatteverket in the employer declaration regarding employees' absence linked to vab and parental leave.

This means that Försäkringskassan has better conditions to develop more effective control systems to detect benefit fraud. Also, Utbetalningsmyndigheten, which was established on 1 January 2024, will support Försäkringskassan in this work, which is positive.

Does the Minister consider that this is sufficient to tackle benefit fraud regarding parental leave (vab), or are more measures needed? Can the Minister, in that case, provide examples of additional measures that may become relevant?

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

Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks, Member Daniel Persson, for an excellent question!

Combating grant fraud and, above all, stifling the criminal economy is a very pressing and important issue for the government.

Försäkringskassan estimates that approximately 800 million kronor are paid out incorrectly every year. It is benefit crime within temporary parental leave. For that very reason, it is undeniably important to prosecute that type of crime, which may start small but grows into something larger and drains our common funds and causes the money to end up in the wrong pockets.

To increase control, to open up the systems and to increase the dissemination of information between authorities but also between employers, preschools and Försäkringskassan are urgent measures to specifically combat benefit crime.

But the government obviously does not stop there. We have added very large resources both to Pensionsmyndigheten and to Försäkringskassan. At this moment, more and more people are being employed at Försäkringskassan precisely to increase the control activities regarding the social insurance system in general, but also regarding temporary parental leave.

(Applause)

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

Jacob Risberg (MP)

Mr. Speaker! In these restless times with an ongoing war in Ukraine that violates international law and turbulence and uncertainty surrounding the USA's future commitment to Europe's security, a united Riksdag and a united Europe stand behind increased defense spending.

In the debate, it sometimes seems there is no limit to how large the investments in military defense can become. I will not review those amounts, but I want to highlight another aspect.

War is expensive, and armed conflicts lead not only to costs while the conflict is ongoing but also to humanitarian and economic costs long after the weapons have fallen silent. Preventing armed conflicts through peacebuilding, poverty reduction, democratization, and various climate actions is significantly cheaper.

When the government now speaks of raising defense appropriations to 3.5 percent of GDP, my question to the Minister for Defence is: To what percentage of GDP is the government ready to simultaneously raise the appropriations for conflict prevention efforts such as democracy initiatives, peace-promoting and climate measures around the world to contribute to avoiding future armed conflicts?

(Applause)

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

Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Jacob Risberg, for the question!

Connected to the defense commitment and what is called the defense investment goal, Sweden is allied. As allies, everyone is committed to meeting the 2 percent goal. Sweden is above the 2 percent goal; we are at 2.4 percent. The assessment is that Nato will approach a goal of approximately 3.5 percent for military defense in connection with Nato's summit in The Hague.

Where do these 3.5 percent come from then? It is the estimated cost for Nato to have a good capability for deterrence and defense. Defense plans have also been developed. There is therefore a well-founded reason why there is now talk of both a 2-percent goal and a 3.5-percent goal.

When it comes to civil defense and when it comes to conflict prevention, practice has not been to set a specific amount. On the other hand, this naturally happens daily, not least in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs' work with preventive diplomacy. We have the Folke Bernadotte Academy and several other important stakeholders who also do important work when it comes to conflict prevention.

(Applause)

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Viktor Wärnick (M)

Mr. Speaker! The investigation on qualification for welfare was recently submitted. To work and behave correctly is an important Moderate principle. This also applies to those who have immigrated to Sweden. It is clearly unreasonable to immediately gain access to our Swedish social insurance systems without effort.

The proposals that people who come here should qualify for welfare in proportion to their work, tax payments, and permanent and legal residence in Sweden are therefore well in line with what we Moderates stand for. To increase the motivation to enter work and counteract exclusion and long-term benefit dependency is both good integration policy and responsible policy for all of Sweden.

I know that a short time has passed since the investigation was submitted, but my question to Minister Anna Tenje is nonetheless: What is the status of the work to ensure that people who come to Sweden qualify for the welfare system through work?

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Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks to Member Viktor Wärnick for an extraordinarily good question!

Yes, it has been a short time since I received the investigation, but I am fast! Already the day after I received the investigation, I sent it out for consultation. The consultation period expires on August 15.

We are keen on getting more people into work. We are keen on more people moving from exclusion into work and into a community. More should be included and integrated into our society.

The referral period expires on August 15. My hope is that this part of the subsidy reform, together with a full-time activation in the social assistance and furthermore a subsidy ceiling, will collectively restore the work principle and not least get more people to move from subsidies to work and build Sweden stronger.

(Applause)

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

Åsa Karlsson (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Carlson.

The night trains between Gothenburg and Duved in Jämtland as well as between Gothenburg and Umeå in Västerbotten, my constituency, have stopped running. These are the night trains that have linked northern Sweden with Western Sweden. This is deeply unfortunate, not least for the tourism industry. But the night trains are also important for Sweden's preparedness. The Defence emphasizes the importance of the night trains for the transport of, among other things, soldiers and other military equipment.

It is important that Trafikverket can procure traffic on sections that can be considered socially important but are not commercially profitable. The government has subsequently provided funds, but only after the trains had stopped running. One may wonder why the government did not act earlier.

Can the Minister give a clear statement here and now? Will the government work towards a procurement and a restart of these night trains?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I note that Åsa Karlsson has noted that the government has allocated more funds. It is Trafikverket that procures the traffic. Swedish railway traffic shall be operated on a commercial basis. If the traffic cannot be operated on a commercial basis and needs to be procured, the route must be transport-politically justified. Trafikverket's assessment is that, at the current time, it is not relevant for the routes Göteborg–Umeå and Göteborg–Duved, as there are higher prioritized interventions.

I still want to inform the members of the Chamber that after the announcement that SJ will no longer operate the route to Jämtland, another operator, Snälltåget, has since December operated the route between Malmö and Jämtland via Gothenburg with night train lines. With SJ, it is also possible to travel via Stockholm to Jämtland from southern Sweden.

The decision from the operator Snälltåget shows that there is interest in continuing the operations on a commercial basis. This is, of course, something that the government will follow.

(Applause)

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

Josef Fransson (SD)

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

We are currently preparing in my committee, the Committee on Industry, the issue concerning financing and risk-sharing in investments in new nuclear power. For me, it is completely obvious that we need new predictable power in Sweden, not least as industrial companies, particularly in southern Sweden, are actually standing in line to receive power allocation in order to be able to invest and expand. This is happening despite a large electricity export.

But even though nuclear power is the only possible and realistic source of power in Sweden that is not driven by fossil fuels, all the red-green parties are therefore saying no to the proposal that we are now working on. They refer, not least from the Social Democrats' side, to potential costs with the bill.

Then my question is: What costs does the Minister associate with the missed investments in the nuclear power that the Tidö agreement is currently planning for?

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Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Josef Fransson, for the question!

I cannot, for easily understood reasons, act as an interpreter or spokesperson for other political parties. But it is clear: Given that we have problems with connection to the power grid, given that we have the problems we have with very volatile electricity prices which create difficulties for households and companies, given that we have the climate challenges we have, given that we have the problems we have in the electricity system, given the experiences we also have from the European continent, given the comfort letter we have received from the EU and given how it looks with the support from both Fackföreningssverige and Industrisverige, it is strange that one is not now constructively contributing to getting this in place.

Fortunately, there is still a majority in this chamber, and there is time to rethink in the future as well for other parties. We know what happens if we do not have base load. It leads to volatile prices, problems connecting to the power grid, and it becomes harder to reach various climate goals.

I think everyone needs to think a bit more here. As it looks now, it is not good, but the future can be better. With more basic power, Sweden will return to a position of strength.

(Applause)

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

Oliver Rosengren (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Wykman.

This week I have a student intern from Ikea's hometown Älmhult. His name is Gustav and he has helped me prepare this question.

Kronoberg is one of the counties in electricity price area 4 that has been affected by both high and unstable electricity prices, which has led to problems for companies being able to establish themselves. We now face a need to stabilize the electricity market and ensure that companies can establish themselves. In meetings with companies – for my part 374 visits to companies and welfare since the spring of 2022 – and with people who tell about expensive electricity bills, this is often raised as a major problem. It pressures people's wallets, and it pressures companies' opportunities to grow.

What does the government's current work look like in ensuring that we get long-term investments in sustainable base load so that we can bring down and stabilize electricity prices, not least in southern Sweden?

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Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! I am well aware of the member's strong commitment to Kronoberg. These problems exist throughout southern Sweden. There are, of course, cost shifts for all electricity consumers in one way or another. That is what happens when the system functions worse and we have, in addition, had a war in our vicinity.

The decommissioning of nuclear power was a mistake for Sweden. Now we will rectify that with a new financing solution and new nuclear power that will ensure we get back stability and less volatile prices.

This is favorable for jobs, it is favorable for households and it is favorable for entrepreneurship. That is also why the response is very positive. Swedish industry says that they are prepared to participate and invest. There are also clear calls from the trade union side that we need to build nuclear power in Sweden.

The situation we have now is tough and demanding for households and for companies, not least with the very volatile prices in southern Sweden. But now, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I hope that not so many in here want to be involved in putting out that lamp.

(Applause)

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Isak From (S)

Mr. Speaker! Niklas Wykman could have remained in the speaker's chair.

Sweden is losing competitiveness. Unemployment is sky-high. The willingness to invest in Swedish industry is declining. Many companies that previously announced large investments are now postponing these due to the uncertainty about what the government actually wants with the industry.

In that situation, it appears in Dagens industri that the Sverigedemokraterna have reached an agreement with the other government parties regarding which industrial companies can receive project funds from Industriklivet. There is also an ongoing discussion out in the industry: Is there a blacklist at the government regarding which companies cannot receive these investments?

Mr. Speaker! I want to ask Niklas Wykman and the government: Is this true? Is there a black list that has been agreed upon with the Sverigedemokraterna?

(Applause)

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Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! Yes, it is a popular perception that more Niklas Wykman is a good solution to various types of problems. I can agree with the member's assessment there.

When it comes to media speculation more broadly, I do not intend to participate in it. Sweden has clear and transparent regulations. They can be accessed. The EU has clear and transparent regulations for, for example, state aid assessments. That is how it shall be handled in Sweden.

Generally, we need good conditions for entrepreneurship in Sweden. It must be based on – I know that Isak From and I here have a greater consensus than what may occasionally emerge in the debate – that there are good conditions to work, that we have a good work environment and that we have good drivers to invest.

I share the member's great commitment to Swedish industry, both in northern Sweden and in southern Sweden. That is how we have built good wages, equality, and cohesion in this country.

In this government, there is no black list for entrepreneurship. On the contrary, we need more companies in Sweden. It builds jobs, it builds wages, and it builds welfare.

(Applause)

Question time was hereby concluded.

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