Question Time

TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions will be answered today by Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand, Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall, Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren, and Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin.

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

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

Åsa Eriksson (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Parisa Liljestrand.

It is said that today is the poorest day of the year, and I believe that many Swedish households feel it. We have quite recently received reports that the number of evictions of children is increasing and that more families are dependent on charity to be able to eat food throughout the month. It probably really feels like January is a poor month.

I want to ask the Minister whether, against this background, she thinks it was right and reasonable to reduce the extra housing allowance for families with children and to worsen the high-cost protection for medicines.

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

Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! As the questioner says, this is a tough month and a difficult time for many. We all know what has pressured the Swedish economy. We know that this government inherited high inflation from the previous government and that the country has been in a recession that has characterized both Sweden's economy and other economies.

What we see now is a small brightening. We are far from finished, but we see a small brightening. The purpose of the budget that the government presented for 2026 is precisely to strengthen Swedish households and ensure that families with children get a little more room in their wallets. This happens, among other things, through the tax cuts that we have made, which make it possible for, for example, families with children to have a little extra left in their wallets, completely regardless of whether it is January or any other month of the year.

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Åsa Eriksson (S)

Mr. Speaker! It is more countries than Sweden that have been affected by inflation and recession. The governments in the other Nordic countries have chosen to increase the child allowance. It is only the Swedish government that has not done so. The Swedish government has instead prioritized lowering the tax further for the richest.

Does the government maintain that it was correct not to increase the child allowance for Swedish families with children?

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

Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! I think an increase of the child allowance by 400 kronor for a family with two children weighs quite lightly in relation to the 800 or even 1,800 kronor that some families receive with our budget and our policy.

We are raising the ceiling for the housing allowance for the first time in 30 years. It will make a difference for families with children and for their wallets. We also ensure that we strengthen households in all our budgets. This applies to everyone in Sweden. Those who benefit most from this are actually not those who have the most in their wallets today, but it is families with two hard-working parents. This budget stands on their side.

(Applause)

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Nima Gholam Ali Pour (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The Government has decided on a bill regarding expanded background checks upon employment in municipal activities, which the Riksdag intends to take a position on during this month. Social services are also covered by the proposal.

The purpose is to counter infiltration and undue influence. A significant part of this influence, however, occurs in a way that is not captured by register checks, for example through kinship- or loyalty-based structures where persons without a criminal record can be subjected to pressure or used by criminal networks.

My question to the Minister for Social Services is the following: How does the Minister intend to act to counter infiltration within the social services that cannot be prevented through register checks during employment?

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Socialtjänstministern Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Mr. Speaker! The social services have an incredibly important function in supporting the most vulnerable in society. It can be about children who need to be taken into care or about people who are in need of financial assistance. Therefore, it is extra important that the social services are kept free from infiltration so that protection and economic resources end up where they should and not with criminals.

It is reported that criminal networks infiltrate and recruit individuals who are already employed within the public sector in order to be able to influence decisions. Therefore, it is necessary to have the possibility to perform recurring register extracts. It is an important part of this.

Right now, an investigation is working on proposing a uniform regulatory framework for background checks that can be recurring, including within social services. It will provide additional tools to strengthen society's resilience against organized crime.

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Nima Gholam Ali Pour (SD)

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

Infiltration of the social services is a problem that local politicians and municipal politicians often find difficult to address due to the limited tools available at the municipal level. Does the Minister for Social Services share my view that the responsibility for detecting and handling infiltration and undue influence in the social services should not only be left to individual municipalities but requires a clearer state responsibility?

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Socialtjänstministern Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the member for the follow-up question.

I share the member's view. This is also the picture I get when I travel around the country and meet social services that are burdened by this issue. This is part of the background to why we are changing the secrecy legislation so that everyone is obliged to report if they see that a crime is being committed or is about to be committed.

To this, we can add the possibility for increased cooperation. Police, social services and school are now given opportunities to work together in a different way across boundaries.

(Applause)

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Maj Karlsson (V)

Mr. Speaker! In Kristersson's and Åkesson's Sweden, entire counties, for example Gävleborg and Norrbotten, now stand completely without protected housing for women and children affected by violence. This is not a coincidence but a direct result of the government's policy. The permit requirement for protected housing that the government has introduced has undermined the non-profit women's shelters, which for decades have borne the responsibility of protecting women and children from violence. When these shelters are forced to close, women and children are left without protection.

My question to Minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall is therefore: How does the Minister intend to take responsibility for the life-threatening consequences that the government's decision has had?

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Socialtjänstministern Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Maj Karlsson, for the question!

The new permit requirement began to apply on 1 April 2024, that is, almost two years ago. Before that – during the previous government's time in power – there was very little protection for vulnerable women and children. This government is determined to combat violence against women and children in the same way as one combats gang crime.

I will try to briefly describe what the situation looked like before the permit requirement.

Anyone – and I repeat: anyone – could start a protected housing facility in Sweden. It meant that women fleeing gang crime could be placed in a facility run by other gang criminals.

Children had no rights and no access to school. The perpetrators continued to have the right of access to the children who fled with their mothers to protected housing.

So we could not continue to have it that way. Therefore, we have changed it.

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

Maj Karlsson (V)

Mr. Speaker! The Government has declared a zero vision in the work against men's violence against women. For it to become a reality, women and children must always be guaranteed protection from violence and support of the highest quality. That is precisely what the voluntary crisis centers have offered for over 40 years. That is what the government's policy is now knocking out.

My follow-up question is therefore: How many women and children will the government let remain without protection before the Minister changes the law?

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Socialtjänstministern Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you very much, Maj Karlsson!

I am fundamentally very concerned that the Left Party seems to be against a permit requirement, which I perceive there is a very broad consensus on.

Knowledge exists regarding how these women and children have suffered. It is not the case that we have had high quality in all protected residences in this country.

Ivo is now stating that thanks to the new legislation we catch unserious actors, and we ensure the quality in the protective housing. So we will continue to work.

(Applause)

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Anders W Jonsson (C)

Mr. Speaker! On December 27, the storm Johannes hit with full force. In a single day, timber equivalent to a year's harvest fell. To date, four people have died.

It was in the affected area that the absolute worst storm in living memory occurred. Right now, many people are fully occupied just with surveying the consequences. It is so obvious to everyone involved that national support is needed.

It is completely incomprehensible that clearing, that is to say felling, should be reported six weeks in advance and then be able to be appealed when the trees are already down. It is completely unreasonable that the species protection regulation should be taken into account in a situation where the natural habitats are destroyed after the storm.

My question to the Minister for Rural Affairs is: Will the government propose temporary changes and support to facilitate matters for the severely affected forest owners in the area?

(Applause)

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! It is terrible consequences that the storm has brought with it. It is 10 million cubic meters that lie in the forest.

Everything that perhaps your grandfather or grandfather, or grandmother or grandmother, at some point in time planted so that you could harvest and have as security in the autumn of your life is being overturned. I feel an immense sense of solidarity with all those people who are affected.

That is why I called, as late as yesterday, the Swedish Forest Agency, Mellanskog – which is a forest association where many members are affected, the forest contractors, Sveaskog, and LRF Skogsägarna to hear a discussion and contribute to a discussion on what we can do to facilitate as much as possible.

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Anders W Jonsson (C)

Mr. Speaker! It has been almost a month since the storm. It is so obvious what must be done regarding legislation. My question was therefore: Will the government propose temporary changes so that one does not need to report that they are going to fell already felled forest?

Will the government propose that it can be deviated from the Species Protection Ordinance in a situation where the habitats are already destroyed? Will the government be prepared to support the forest owners in, for example, saving the forest roads that will be destroyed now during the spring when they are forced to drive on them?

I want an answer.

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Information will be provided. I believe it was four or five days ago that different actors submitted different descriptions of what is seen as necessities from the industry side. We discussed all of this thoroughly yesterday.

The government will soon return with how we will act. But it is clear that we must ensure that the timber that has fallen can be removed from the forest in a simple and smooth way.

(Applause)

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Mats Berglund (MP)

Mr. Speaker! Immediately after the question period, the train for me goes to Gothenburg and the film festival. The Minister for Culture is not coming along, and that is, of course, a shame.

Exactly one year ago, the minister gave an opening speech there. People started booing and perhaps missed the most important message, which came at the end. The minister said: The Film Investigation will present its proposals in just over a month, and after the summer, the proposals regarding illegal IP-TV will come. Next year at this time, I hope the script is about how we implement the proposals in practice.

It will not be like that. The film proposition is delayed. No proposition regarding IP-TV has been announced, and we have not seen any transitional solutions either. The problems will persist for a long time.

My questions to the Minister for Culture before the film festival are: Why has the government, during an entire mandate period, done nothing to address the fact that Swedish film has been at the absolute bottom of Western Europe when it comes to funding? Why have you allowed the film proposition to become so delayed?

(Applause)

In this speech, Jan Riise and Jacob Risberg (both MP) concurred.

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! It is both amusing and clear that there is now a great interest in film issues. We can note that overall there is a positive attitude among very many towards the renewal that the Film Committee proposed in its report.

I intend to return to the details of the investigation, the report, and the proposals contained therein. Just as I have said before, I hope to be able to place a government bill on the Riksdag's table before the parliamentary term ends and, hopefully, also before the summer.

It is a large and difficult task. I took over in a situation where film policy had completely collapsed. The previous government had chosen to completely nationalize film policy, and that has obviously not worked.

This is not solved in a heartbeat, but it requires reflection and that the proposals can function over time for Swedish film, now and in the future.

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Mats Berglund (MP)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Minister for Culture, for that answer!

Sweden has for a long time been an internationally prominent film country. This has been built on the fact that the public has been involved and taken responsibility. With the Tidö government, it is not quite like that anymore.

I would like to take the opportunity to ask a knowledge question before the discussions that may take place now in Gothenburg. Will we see concrete proposals on IP-TV during the mandate period from the government? When will decisions be able to be made so that we can eliminate the crime associated with illegal IP-TV and illegal streaming?

When will decisions be able to be made regarding the rest of the film policy? Will it happen during the mandate period?

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! Just as I said in my previous speech, it is the government's and my intention to be able to present a proposition that addresses all needs within film policy on the Riksdag's table within this parliamentary term and hopefully also before the summer.

When it comes to IP-TV, I was very pleased with Mats Berglund's commitment to that issue. It is an issue where we should be able to unite all parliamentary parties to combat organized crime.

That is also why the Film Inquiry has been delayed. We gave a supplementary directive to the inquiry specifically regarding IP-TV. I look forward to working on this issue in its entirety.

(Applause)

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Peter Ollén (M)

Mr. Speaker! Digitization and thus the making available of cultural heritage has been a priority issue during the parliamentary term. Large resources have been allocated to the Swedish National Heritage Board to lead and carry out the work. Digital material can more easily be moved away in the event of war or crisis. Thus, the memory cannot be destroyed even if pests, fire, water damage, or foreign powers were to destroy the objects themselves.

Unfortunately, we continue to see that especially water damage destroys objects, and insects destroy the delicate textile collections. We have also seen how Blue Shield, which according to the Hague Convention is supposed to protect cultural heritage, has instead been used as a checklist for the Russians to loot and destroy in Ukraine.

My question to the Minister for Culture is whether she thinks the work with cultural heritage has proceeded as expected. I am thinking of both digitalization and the plans for removal and protection of objects.

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! This is a major issue, which I believe will be a fateful issue for Sweden when it comes to how well we succeed in taking care of our heritage and passing it on to future generations.

Digitalization is naturally a large part of the management of our cultural heritage in that it allows us to digitize our collections so that they can be passed on to future generations and posterity. In that regard, this government has done much more than has been done previously, both through direct mandates and through financing of the digitalization to a large extent.

Through the agencies' annual reports, we see that this is now yielding results, which is very pleasing. It should also be said that we have come a way, but we are not entirely there yet. This is a task that will take time, and the most important thing is that we do not miss that this is also a large part of our preparedness work.

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Peter Ollén (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Parisa Liljestrand, for the answer!

It sounds hopeful, even though I also have respect for the fact that much remains. I am therefore a little curious if the Minister for Culture would like to say something about the continued work regarding the protection of cultural heritage during the upcoming mandate period.

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! Just as I said, this will continue to be a major and important issue for Sweden. I believe we all feel a responsibility when we consider how the cultural heritage can be protected and best preserved for posterity.

We have come some way, but much remains. Among other things, the National Heritage Board has a major task in gathering authorities and ensuring that cooperation takes place so that the work with the protection of cultural heritage continues in the best and most effective way moving forward.

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Torsten Elofsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! My question also goes to the Minister for Culture.

The Muslim Brotherhood is a movement that was founded with the purpose of promoting Islamization and which strives for a government according to Islamic law, that is, sharia.

A French government report has recently warned against the spread of political Islam in Europe through the Muslim Brotherhood and the consequences it may have. The report also states that Sweden is home to an active branch of the movement, which is reinforced by the review that has been carried out by Center against violence-promoting extremism.

The Muslim Brotherhood acts long-term, through agents who infiltrate our democratic society. There are also links to al-Qaeda, Hamas and IS. The movement is classified as a terrorist organization in several countries, including the USA.

My question to the Minister for Culture is whether a corresponding discussion about classifying the movement as terrorist occurs in Sweden.

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! It is extremely worrying that a report from the French government identifies Sweden as a stronghold for radical Islamists in the form of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Furthermore, the report mentions the Social Democrats as a party with links to the movement, and that in itself is noteworthy. Based on this information, the Social Democrats, at the very least, must examine themselves and conduct a thorough investigation. Radical Islamism has no place in Swedish politics.

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Torsten Elofsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The question, therefore, is whether the discussion is taking place. If we broaden the question, we see that it is not only Sweden that is affected by this, but also France, Germany, the Netherlands and several other countries have corresponding problems and concern for what is happening.

I therefore raise the question from Sweden to the European Union. Is there any discussion there regarding the terrorist classification of the Muslim Brotherhood?

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! The Government has, of course, noted the American terrorist listing of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood is not listed as a terrorist organization by either the EU or the UN.

The question of terror listing is not currently being discussed in the EU. The next time the EU's foreign ministers meet, it will rather be about the question of further sanctions against Iran. The government will then raise the question of a terror listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. It is therefore this that is on the agenda.

As is known, there is no Swedish system for terror listing, but it is through the EU that we act.

(Applause)

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Elin Nilsson (L)

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

I had actually prepared another question, but on the way here, I saw a news flash about this year's wolf license hunt, which the Administrative Court has now decided will not be permitted in Västmanland. It is now expected that the same will apply for the other affected counties.

The Minister for Rural Affairs comes, just like I do, from a rural area where there are very many wolves. We live in Örebro and Värmland counties, respectively, which are the most wolf-dense in Sweden, and we are very well aware of the problems that the large number of wolves brings with it.

I count on the fact that the first person I meet when I get on the train home will ask questions about what we are doing to still move forward.

The question to Peter Kullgren is: How do we move forward? We need to achieve better management of the wolf population.

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I completely agree with Elin Nilsson that we need to achieve better management. The government has done quite a lot here. We have ensured that the Bern Convention was amended, which was a prerequisite for us to be able to amend the Habitats Directive and downgrade the protection status for wolves.

After that, the government has ensured that we have a lowered reference value that has been reported to the EU. We have allocated hundreds of millions of kronor in the upcoming state budget so that we can have a smaller wolf population.

It is obvious that we need to do even more, but the government's wolf policy remains unchanged. The goal of this year's wolf hunt was that we should be down within the interval that this chamber has decided on, between 170 and 270. A first step was 270, and that was also what the county administrative boards had decided.

The ink has hardly dried on the judgment. I have not had time to familiarize myself with what the grounds are, but I promise that we will do so and return.

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Elin Nilsson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Peter Kullgren, for the clarity! We share the commitment to these issues, and we meet, as said, the people who are affected.

The government allocates a very large amount of money in the budget for this. Can the Minister say something about the measures that can still be taken, even if the license hunt is cancelled? I am thinking of measures that could potentially lead to us facing a better situation next year.

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The money is coming because the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, the state's expert authority in these matters, stated that different measures need to be taken if we are to move downwards, towards the level 170. It is needed to ensure that the wolf population simply remains, and that is what we all want. We must also live up to our EU legal obligations.

The government has therefore allocated large sums so that we can have an even better administration than we have today. When it comes to what happens to the money now, we will have to return to that.

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Gustaf Lantz (S)

Mr. Speaker! I would like a clarification from the Minister for Culture when she says that everyone knows what has pressured the economy.

It is, of course, a pressure from the outside regarding how the world looks. But it is the government that has the power and the ability to borrow large amounts, which is also what has been done. One has borrowed from future generations in an incredibly expansive way.

The government has, however, chosen to ensure that people must go to work even though they are sick in order to be able to get paid. They have chosen to raise the price of medicines, and they have chosen not to raise the child allowance.

I wonder therefore: What does the Minister for Culture actually mean? Does one not stand by one's priorities, where it is those who have the highest incomes who have received the highest tax cuts? Does one not stand by that one has enormous resources that have been borrowed and which could ensure that those families who are now incredibly pressured in the time we live in are helped?

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! I can be very clear with both Gustaf Lantz and the entire Swedish people: This government, I as a Moderate, and the budget proposal that we have submitted stand on the side of the hard-working Swedes.

It is those who set the clock, get up every morning and go to work regardless of whether it is slushy snow or if one has to scrape the windshield. It is those who step off their night shift. This budget is for them.

The tax cuts that the budget enables mean that people have more money left in their pockets and thus greater freedom to decide over their lives and what the money should be spent on.

I understand that it can feel difficult for Gustaf Lantz and the Socialdemokraterna, who would like to decide as much as possible about what people should use their own money for. So, we in this government and I as a Moderate do not think that it should be that way, and therefore I think that this is a good budget.

(Applause)

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Tobias Andersson (SD)

Mr. Speaker! From one hunter to another, I would like to ask Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren about the wolf hunt.

I live, live, and hunt in a wolf territory. I have been persecuted by wolves, and I have comforted friends whose dogs have been attacked by wolves. I know how the wolf destroys, and the minister knows that too, which is why we have both contributed to, among other things, lowering the reference value to 170 individuals.

To get down to 170 individuals, however, a comprehensive cull is required. The intended and now cancelled license hunt had only been the beginning of that work. Nevertheless, it did not take place. Hundreds of hunters had spent weeks planning and taken leave from their jobs. To make matters worse, we had good tracking snow and good hunting conditions.

The license hunt was halted due to a decision from the Administrative Court in Luleå. Today, a new decision has been issued from the Court of Appeal in Sundsvall. Both of these decisions are in direct conflict with what we have decided here.

The question my colleagues are asking is: Who actually decides?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! We therefore have to abide by the courts in this country. I can hear, share and feel the frustration, but I do not believe that anyone actually wants any other system.

Now we have this situation. It is clear what the government and a majority in this chamber want. I withdrew a previous answer regarding what the government has done, something that many before this mandate period said was impossible. It would never be possible to change any species and habitat directive at the EU level, it was said. It did happen. Now we have also provided the funds that were needed.

I must analyze this judgment to determine what remains. I can say quite honestly: My assessment when we had taken all these measures and when the budget had passed – it had not when the Administrative Court made its decision – was that we would get this wolf hunt this year, which in a first step would reduce the wolf population to 270 individuals.

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Nadja Awad (V)

Mr. Speaker! The government seems to disregard guaranteeing protection for persons with disabilities in war or crisis. In the government's proposal for a new civil defense act, they do not want the shelters to have accessibility requirements. In such an important issue that concerns life or death, hundreds of thousands of persons with disabilities risk, in practice, not receiving protection in time.

The Government knows that persons with disabilities are repeatedly hit harder in war and crisis situations, not because of their disability itself, but because not all parts of society today are built for all residents.

It sounds a bit like the government wants shelters to continue being built for people like themselves, with normative functionality, and that everyone else should simply have to solve it themselves.

My question is: Does the government consider that persons with disabilities should purchase their own accessible shelters? What else is this group intended to do in a sharp situation during an acute need for shelters?

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Minister för civilt försvar Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the question.

Sweden has 7 million shelter places. They were predominantly built during the beginning of the Cold War, in the 50s and 60s. To retroactively make all these shelters accessible would be associated with a very large cost.

What the government is doing now, however, is to make up to an additional 1.5 million places in protected spaces available through new legislation. Many of these protected spaces are already adapted for accessibility. It will therefore be the case that, under this government, more protected spaces that are adapted for accessibility will be added than under previous governments.

The answer to the question is also that in an ultimate crisis situation, everyone must help each other to care for even the very weakest.

(Applause)

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Anders Karlsson (C)

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

Sweden needs more Swedish food products, not least to strengthen civil defense and equip us for a crisis situation. There is an obvious shortage of both beef and, not least, lamb in our stores. Given the current ruling from the Court of Appeal, it is remarkable that we today in Sweden have well over 300 wolves.

What will the government and the Minister for Rural Affairs do so that we get more Swedish food in Swedish stores?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! According to the sheep farmers themselves, the predator issue, the wolf issue, is one of the most important reasons why those who have de facto quit have done so.

I have said it in the chamber before and I am happy to say it again: I find it difficult to reconcile why a country with such favorable conditions for keeping sheep should import up to 80 percent of the lamb meat we eat from the other side of the world. For me, there is no logic in that. It is clear that we must ensure that it is changed. It is one of the reasons why I and the government stand for the predator policy that we do.

Now we shall first analyze this judgment, and then we can return.

On the food production side in general, there is a long row of measures. One thing that is in no way decisive but which has been on the back burner for a long time is that from January 1, we can achieve more natural pasture land and hopefully more animals in our Swedish nature by allowing virtual fences for cattle and sheep.

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Ulf Holm (MP)

Mr. Speaker! In the very difficult and complicated security and defense policy situation we find ourselves in, it must be obvious to everyone that the world order has now changed. Trump's and his ministers' mocking and threatening attacks against Europe, most recently at the summit in Davos yesterday, are deplorable to both see and hear. The situation requires that Sweden strengthens the total defense and, in particular, the civil defense, where much work remains.

I believe that increased self-sufficiency and reduced dependence on the USA is an issue that must be raised. An important and urgent issue is to review our enormous dependence on American tech giants who, under a capricious and mafia-like American president, take part in what we store as data in the cloud. We simply must reduce the dependence on the USA and manage the risks with storage and cloud services.

As the Danish intelligence service said, the USA can extinguish Denmark in an hour. Presumably, the same applies to Sweden.

The questions to the Minister for Civil Defence are therefore: What initiatives are you taking, and have you been in contact with your counterparts in the EU circle to accelerate active work?

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Minister för civilt försvar Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Ulf Holm, for the question!

Erik Slottner is responsible for digitalization issues in the government. It is also he who participates in the respective ministerial formats. He can certainly account for that specific part in a more appropriate manner than I can.

What I can say, however, is that the government is now taking action to build up national cybersecurity in a way that unfortunately has not occurred under previous governments. We are now building a completely new national cybersecurity center. Here, of course, issues regarding accessibility of data and over critical systems also come in as a component. It is something that the government is working on as we now build up the new national cybersecurity center, which will be fully developed by the summer.

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Malin Höglund (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall.

All children in Sweden, regardless of where they live, have the right to a safe upbringing and a future to look forward to. Today, over 200,000 children in Sweden live in homes where different forms of violence or abuse occur.

A week ago, on January 15, new laws came into force that are intended to provide vulnerable children with better protection. My question to the Minister for Social Services is: Which new professional groups will be covered by the reporting obligation?

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Socialtjänstministern Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

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

It is correct as the member says that the government is carrying out extensive work to strengthen the protection for vulnerable children in every way. A week ago, new legislation came into force that takes the ambition one step further. It is about identifying and ensuring that more professional groups, for example security guards, now receive an obligation to report concerns when they see that something should be reported.

But it is also about more authorities and individuals at authorities being given a reporting obligation, for example, the Prosecution Authority and people employed at Försäkringskassan. It is of incredibly great importance that everyone who is in a context involving children and who discovers that something is wrong, where violence may occur, acts so that social services and responsible authorities in turn can act regarding the children to prevent violence against children.

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Mikael Oscarsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The population of cormorants has increased exponentially in Sweden. In the 90s, there were 15,000–16,000 pairs. Now in 2023, they have risen to 75,000, which means 400,000 cormorants. That is far more than what the fish stocks and the ecosystem in Sweden can handle.

Every day, the cormorants eat an incredible 200,000 tonnes of fish. Now, reports are coming from Vättern, Vänern, and the Uppland coast that entire year classes of perch and pike-perch are being wiped out. Despite this, Sweden lacks national population goals for the cormorant, that is, the minimum favorable conservation status.

When will the government give Naturvårdsverket the mandate to establish a national population target for cormorants? It should be at the level of the end of the 90s, that is, a reduction of 75 percent so that we get a balance in the ecosystem again?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The Government has initiated work aimed at facilitating the hunting of cormorants. We see how today's population is taking far too much from the fish stocks, and we also see how it completely destroys archipelago environments and more.

That is why we have given a long series of assignments in the area, among others to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, to facilitate hunting and protection of fish and proposals for effective measures. These were received at the end of last year. We are also pushing in the EU, which is central in this context, to obtain an amendment to the Birds Directive.

The committee chair raises population goals, and it is not something I rule out. The government is continuously considering further measures to limit the cormorant populations. It is truly needed. In the latest regulatory letter of the year, we gave the county administrative boards the assignment to coordinate in cormorant management plans for Mälaren and Hjälmaren.

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Åsa Karlsson (S)

Mr. Speaker! A functioning civil defense ultimately depends on our society holding together in everyday life and in crisis. In that case, robust infrastructure is absolutely crucial. The state has a clear responsibility to secure electricity, transport, water, digital networks, and not least railways throughout the country.

Still, today we see major deficiencies, not least with vulnerable private solutions. In an intensified security situation, this risks hitting hard against society-critical activities such as healthcare and elderly care and against the infrastructure that those activities are dependent on.

I direct my question to the Minister for Civil Defence: How does the government intend to ensure that critical infrastructure is built and maintained with a holistic perspective, where long-term resilience is prioritized over short-term market solutions?

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Minister för civilt försvar Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the question.

The answer to the question is: by making substantial investments in civil defense.

During the period 2015–2022, almost nothing was invested in civil defense. Consequently, robustness and redundancy were also lacking. Now we see how the budget for civil defense goes from 2.7 billion to, in a couple of years, 20 billion. This provides the conditions to make substantial investments in that which builds actual capability. Now we also see the capability emerging in all readiness sectors.

In 2024, twice as many capability-enhancing measures were implemented as in 2023. The preliminary assessment for 2025 is that the curve continues to rise straight up when it comes to the development of capabilities in civil defense.

The answer is: by putting the money where the rhetoric is, not just dedicating oneself to PowerPoints and empty rhetoric.

(Applause)

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Chris Dahlqvist (SD)

Mr. Speaker! There is currently a shortage of Swedish beef, primarily because there are fewer cows and calves as a result of high production costs and low profitability for the Swedish farmers. The situation is currently exacerbated because fewer animals have reached slaughter maturity.

Due to the worsened situation, there is currently a situation where the shelves in many grocery stores are empty of Swedish beef. In view of this, I would like to ask Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren how the government is working to assist our Swedish farmers in managing the current shortage of Swedish beef.

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! We can observe that it has been discussed significantly more lately. It has emerged from the industry that part of the shortage of certain beef products is due to the fact that slaughterhouses do not have the same production rate during periods of many red days.

This does not address the basic problem. The basic problem in Sweden, the reason we have this situation, is that there are too few cows. We need more cows in Sweden to fill our stomachs.

There is a long line of measures that the government has taken to achieve this. Specifically aimed at beef production, we have announced that in the upcoming CAP structure we want to see a special animal welfare support for the beef production. Something that has been long-awaited from beef producers has been virtual fences, which are now permitted from January 1.

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Fredrik Lindstål (C)

Mr. Speaker! The question has already been raised, and it becomes a bit of a repetition. But it is said that repetition is the mother of learning.

Many comments have been made about the Minister for Culture choosing not to attend this year's Guldbaggegala. In my capacity as a Member of Parliament, I do not intend to review the Minister's calendar planning or priorities. The picture that is, however, being painted by the film industry is one of cuts, a lack of reforms, and that our Nordic neighbors are running away from us.

Sweden needs a strong and independent film industry. The film industry understands what the government describes as broadened funding, but it is also clear that Swedish film needs strong state funding. Otherwise, we risk eroding the Swedish film industry and thereby losing an important cultural industry and the high standing in the world that Swedish film has.

Mr. Speaker! How will the government work to strengthen the confidence of the film industry and let Swedish film take its place again?

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! Let me begin by saying that Swedish film today has an annual state funding of approximately 650 million kronor. It still feels important to establish that. Sometimes in the debate it can sound as if there is nothing within the framework of Swedish film, but within the framework of the Swedish Film Institute Foundation, funds are distributed. We also have a production incentive of 100 million kronor that is distributed annually.

On the other hand, there are many problems within Swedish film. The production incentive as a system works poorly with a first-come, first-served principle that one could interpret as taxpayers' money being distributed by lottery. Illegal IPTV undermines and does not return money that the industry could use. There are many problems in addition to that.

That is why this government appointed a film inquiry to look at these problems, and now we intend to submit a proposition.

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Jan Riise (MP)

Mr. Speaker! My question also goes to the Minister for Culture.

I had the pleasure of visiting Jämtland this past week, including Hammerdal and Östersund, and spoke with, among others, the new chair of the Sami Parliament, Marianne Gråik. We naturally spoke about many different things, such as reindeer husbandry and climate change, but also about the Sami Parliament's planned parliamentary building in Östersund. It was decided back in 2019 that it would be located there. Plans exist, as does a plot of land and a sketch of how it should look. But there is no commencement order for the construction itself.

The Norwegian and Finnish counterparts are further up in the north, in Karasjok and Enare. It would be fitting to have something in Östersund to mark the entire extent of Sápmi.

The matter is being prepared in the Government Offices, as it is called. With a mixture of impatience and a constructive approach, I would like to hear from the Minister for Culture what the plans look like for getting started.

(Applause)

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for the question!

I also had the great pleasure of being present when the opening of the Sami Parliament took place. It was very beautiful, and it felt both honorable and good to be able to be there.

Regarding the parliamentary building, I and the government have no new information to provide at this stage, as the matter is being prepared. We intend to return when it has been fully prepared.

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Ludvig Ceimertz (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is directed to Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall.

We know that many children and young people in Sweden are drawn into crime. We also know that many of these children have been known to social services for a long time. Among those who commit the most serious crimes, there is also a large overrepresentation of children who have been placed in the care of society, in foster homes, HVB homes, and the like. This in itself has led to an increased risk of committing crimes, committing more serious crimes, and getting stuck in crime. These are issues that the Minister for Social Services and the government have been very engaged in ever since taking office.

On Tuesday, the Minister for Social Services received the national coordinator's investigation on state social child and youth care, which proposes a number of measures. It concerns more adapted places and a greater state responsibility. My question is: Which of these measures does the Minister for Social Services consider to be the most prioritized and most urgent to implement in order to prevent children from being drawn into crime?

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Socialtjänstministern Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks to Ludvig for the question!

The Speaker of the House puts his finger on an enormously important issue. If we are to stop the crime and break the recruitment of young people, we must work preventatively.

The Social Democrats have had a high level of responsibility in this issue, but almost nothing happened during their years in government. It was simply eight lost years.

We, however, have established a new preventive social services act, with 10 billion in funding. The coordinator requested stronger state governance in these matters. We are working to get a national placement function in place to improve the quality of care for our children.

But we also need more foster home placements. The coordinator also suggested more education and support for our foster homes. I believe that is absolutely crucial to get more to dare to take on this large and very important responsibility.

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Tomas Kronståhl (S)

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

I want to refer to a very good seminar we had yesterday. It was about hydropower and fish passages and was attended by nearly 70 people – very successful! It was, of course, about how many fish are losing their lives because there are no migration routes. We see that both salmon, eel, and trout, along with several other species, are being crushed and killed. For the eel, hydropower is well the biggest and most dangerous obstacle we have.

My question is whether the minister and the government will take action on this issue and accelerate the work to modernize and secure hydropower so that we get fish passages, so that we can have an increased production of electricity but also a modern society where the fish can migrate. There are actually funds set aside. What is the reason that you do not start this work?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! My view is that a fair amount is happening. As we have said, we have a long series of different projects and activities, and there are state funds for this purpose – not least to protect the eel, which constitutes a damaged stock.

There, one can observe that Sweden has done an enormous amount. We have totally closed the entire west coast side for fishing, and we have strict limitations on the eastern side. Sweden is also pushing very actively so that we should take care of all the salmon's life stages at the EU level. Currently, only the part where the salmon de facto lives in the sea is regulated. At every opportunity I get, I give a scolding to those who think it is completely okay to fish up ålyngel, i.e., glass eels. It is a very large problem for the salmon.

But of course, we also need to ensure that we have waterways ahead.

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Björn Tidland (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Civil Defence. Due to the deteriorating security situation in Europe, it must be of the highest priority to protect the civilian population in the event of war. Supervision of and access to shelters must therefore be prioritized more highly. In large cities such as Gothenburg, Stockholm and Malmö, ports, bridges, refineries, power supply, water treatment, waterworks, roads, railways and factories will become targets for attacks. In that case, civilians will also be affected. Thousands of citizens risk becoming victims if society does not prioritize the protection of the civilian population.

So to the question itself: Does the Minister have a timetable for when there will be operational shelters for everyone living in Gothenburg, Stockholm and Malmö?

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Minister för civilt försvar Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Björn Tidland, for an important question!

Let me begin by saying that the vast majority of the shelters in Sweden fulfill their function, that is to say, that they can be used if needed. Then, the standard is sometimes neglected, and the government has had as a prioritized task to, for the first time in a very long time in Sweden, allocate funds to be able to restore and refurbish. I myself visited the first newly renovated civil defense shelter here in Stockholm just a few weeks ago. This work is, therefore, moving forward.

As I mentioned earlier, we have also prepared a bill that will make new protected spaces available, including in our large cities.

The Swedish people should feel reassured – we take this issue very seriously. We are working to clear the stock as quickly as possible with large population shelters. We carried out 12,000 inspections and controls in 2025, which is a significant increase compared to previous years.

We are, therefore, on this question and are continuing to work on it.

(Applause)

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Jacob Risberg (MP)

Mr. Speaker! In major crises and in war, it is extremely important that society functions and that there is good preparedness. Society's resilience is increased by networks where many people are known, clear tasks to contribute with during a crisis, and a general human trust. All of this is offered by civil society – from the sports movement which contributes to healthy people to cultural organizations that create opportunities for recreation, the importance of which the war in Ukraine has shown with all desirable clarity. Large organizations are used to mobilizing large numbers of people, while small village associations create meeting places and a willingness to stand up for one another based on each individual's competencies.

When we now prepare the civil defense as well, it is obvious that organizations such as the Red Cross and the Church of Sweden, which are used to working with crisis management, are invited to contribute. But they are only a fraction of Swedish civil society, and there are many more who want to contribute.

My question to the Minister for Civil Defence is therefore: Why are not all these other civil society organisations invited to contribute to increasing Sweden's preparedness and resilience?

(Applause)

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Minister för civilt försvar Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

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

I am the first to agree with the description that civil society is important and has an important role to play also in the total defense and the general preparedness work.

The Swedish Civil Defence Agency currently operates a civil society council where representatives from various civil society organizations are invited.

At the Ministry of Defence, we also sometimes have meetings of a more ad hoc character. We have, among other things, met all the organizations that have grown up in the wake of the war in Ukraine and which assist in supporting Ukraine but also share experiences from Ukraine that we can implement when we build up the civil defense in Sweden. It is, of course, very, very important.

My perception is that dialogues are being held with civil society organizations at different levels, in the Government Offices and at subordinate agencies.

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Lorena Delgado Varas (-)

Mr. Speaker! Does the government consider it morally and internationally legally justifiable to finance a Syrian regime, led by a former al-Qaeda leader, in order to stop refugees to Europe and send back those who are here, while the same regime attacks the Kurdish self-administration in Rojava and murders civilians?

Those in Rojava actually stopped IS's advance in the world, and now they are being massacred by a regime that receives economic support from Sweden. Time and again, the government chooses to stand on the wrong side, regardless of which foreign policy issue we look at.

How will you act now, and when will you stop the indirect support to this regime?

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! I will begin by saying: If the questioner wants a very clarified answer, it is probably better to pose the question to the minister who is concerned. But as regards Swedish foreign policy in general, I can say that Swedish foreign policy follows both Swedish laws and regulations and international laws and regulations. We relate to other states through the policy that we pursue but also through the aid that we provide in various ways and the collaborations that we have. These can always need to be addressed and questioned based on how other states act. But it is, therefore, nothing that I can stand and account for here.

If one wants a more detailed answer, one will probably have to direct the question to the minister who has this in their portfolio.

(Applause)

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Kristina Axén Olin (M)

Mr. Speaker! I also have a question for Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand.

The media in P1 and also the newspaper Kvartal have noted that Sameradion, which is part of Sveriges Radio and thus public service, during the Sami Parliament election had a commentator who had simultaneously been an active social democrat in the municipal council in Umeå. She has also run for the church council for the Socialdemokraterna.

Mainly, she has commented on issues concerning the Sametinget, but not exclusively. She has also commented, for example, on a report from Timbro, Befria Sápmi, and the church's forest investigation. Despite the fact that she has commented on issues concerning politics in completely different assemblies than the Sametinget, it has not been revealed that she is an active social democrat and sits in the municipal council in Umeå.

My question to the Minister for Culture is: How does the Minister for Culture believe this aligns with the fact that public service is to be politically independent and has as a rule to be so?

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! I have noted the criticism that has been voiced, and I fully understand that questions similar to the one Kristina Axén Olin poses can be asked. But I, as Minister for Culture, cannot have views on either program content, what public service chooses to broadcast, or who works in the organization. I keep myself far away from that.

It is absolutely correct that Sveriges Radio's activities shall be conducted with impartiality and objectivity as a basis. This applies to all of Sveriges Radio, including Sameradion. It is then up to Sveriges Radio to handle this issue in detail, which I naturally assume they do.

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Karin Sundin (S)

Mr. Speaker! It has been almost three years since the Socialstyrelsen alarm report regarding a sharp decrease in the number of people receiving accompaniment was issued. This is about the support that can be obtained in the form of a person who accompanies you when you, for example, go for a walk, run errands, or meet friends – if you are blind and cannot go out on your own.

It is not the needs that have decreased. It is the application of the law that has been tightened and become increasingly narrower. Therefore, the Riksdag decided two years ago that the government should review the legislation. But the only thing that has happened during these years is that more and more are denied the right to accompaniment. More and more live under house arrest or are completely dependent on relatives or friends to be able to go out.

My question to Social Services Minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall is: Why is the Social Services Minister not doing what the Riksdag has decided? Why is there complete silence on this issue from the government's side?

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Socialtjänstministern Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

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

The accompaniment is part of the LSS legislation that a conservative government put in place in the early 90s. It is important legislation. It is about being able to participate in society on the same terms as everyone else.

We in the government are, of course, extremely concerned that we see the municipalities increasingly not taking this responsibility. Therefore, we are working with a number of different parts. One part that we included in the new regulatory letter to Socialstyrelsen was taken from just that report that the member refers to. In that, there were a number of proposals, and some were about developing a guidance for the municipalities so that similar, equal assessments can be made across the entire country, which unfortunately is not the case today.

This assignment is an important step in ensuring leadership in the country.

(Applause)

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Christian Lindefjärd (SD)

Mr. Speaker! In Sweden, we see today an extensive problem with dog smuggling. Dogs are brought in, primarily from Eastern Europe, and sold online to Swedish buyers. Many of these dogs are sold in unprofessional manners, for example in parking lots or by persons who cannot answer basic questions about the dogs' background. Here, a clear responsibility rests on the buyers to act with good judgment.

The smuggling of dogs does not only represent an animal welfare problem. It also poses a significant risk of infectious diseases being imported into Sweden, diseases that can affect both dogs and humans. Once such diseases have gained a foothold in the country, they are often very difficult to combat. Furthermore, several smuggled dogs have proven to be in such poor condition that they must be euthanized shortly after purchase. In this way, buyers who choose to trade with unscrupulous actors indirectly contribute to crime and animal cruelty.

What measures does the government intend to take to counter both dog smuggling and the sale of illegally imported dogs, and to clarify the responsibility for the buyers – before we face a serious incident and the spread of infectious diseases?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Yes, one feels distressed when seeing these situations, especially when dogs are in poor condition. Not infrequently, there is on the other side a deceived buyer who believes that one is doing a good deed when taking care of a dog that has not had it good and which is going to have it much better here in Sweden.

This is a major problem and a great suffering. As the member says, there are also significant risks that diseases we have managed to get rid of here in Sweden are introduced on the animal side.

The legislation exists. It is not permitted to do this. Then it is a matter of us following up on it. There have been discussions about veterinarians' responsibility if they can determine that it is a dog that is smuggled and so on. So, discussions are being had. But fundamentally, it is a matter of ensuring that the law we have, which prohibits such things, is actually complied with.

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Crister Carlsson (M)

Mr. Speaker! The question goes to Minister for Rural Affairs Kullgren.

Dalarna, where I live, and Gävleborg were recently hit by the worst storm in ten years. Large areas of forest were blown down. Now it is important that one takes care of the forest before bark beetles and rot destroy the trees – it is lucky that it is winter now. But the forest owners need to submit a felling notification to Skogsstyrelsen if the damaged area is larger than half a hectare. Skogsstyrelsen then has six weeks to process a notification.

LRF has raised the issue and said in SVT that a so-called crisis exemption would be needed. But is it reasonable that one should have to submit a logging notification for storm-damaged forest? The trees are already lying there and must be taken care of regardless, perhaps urgently.

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! We will, as said, do much to ensure that this is facilitated. I had a very good conversation yesterday with representatives from both the industry and the Swedish Forest Agency. We can state that around 200 or more applications for exemptions have been received. I know that 125 of them have already been granted, and exemptions from the logging notification are being prioritized.

Half a hectare may sound like a little, but parts of the consequences of this storm are in areas that are no larger than half a hectare, approximately equivalent to a football pitch, and where nothing is needed. The Swedish Forest Agency's request to landowners was also that if one knows that one will not get to the area within six weeks, one can wait a bit with the notification, so that the Swedish Forest Agency can prioritize what is more urgent.

We are, therefore, having a good dialogue, and the government will shortly return with how we proceed.

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Eva Lindh (S)

Mr. Speaker! I want to follow up on Minister Liljestrand's answer to my colleagues' questions about the toughest month of the year.

The Minister says that the government stands on the side of the hard-working people. I hardly believe that the nursing assistant who has found things increasingly tougher during these years recognizes herself in that description. Many are single mothers who cannot even put nutritious food on the table for their children. They hardly recognize themselves even in the small brightening that the Minister speaks of.

At the same time, many have fared much better. My question to the Minister is therefore: What does the Minister say to the nursing assistant who cannot put nutritious food on the table for her children? Can the Minister tell that nursing assistant what the Minister himself has done for the tax bonus that she has received during the same period?

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! With the policy that the Moderaterna have pursued for many years, we can state that all people in Sweden have received more to move with thanks to tax deductions of various kinds that we have made possible. This also applies to the nursing assistant who works hard to take care of others.

It is also about making sure we get as many as possible to go to work every morning. In that way, we enable the ability to take care of those who truly need it in society. It is no more than fair that it looks like that in a society, and I believe that the member and I share that opinion.

However, we see things a bit differently on the way there. We believe in ensuring that as many as possible get the opportunity to go to work. We do that through a subsidy reform and by ensuring that as many as possible actually do their utmost. In that way, we can also truly help those who need it in society.

(Applause)

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Per Söderlund (SD)

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

The reconstruction of civil defense is at least as important as the military. A functioning defense presupposes population protection, preparedness stocks, and robust preparations for crisis or armed conflict.

Civil defense is a shared responsibility for municipalities, regions, and the state, as fundamental as police, healthcare, and school. Against this background, the Sweden Democrats have since the 2022 election pushed to introduce a total defense analysis in agency decisions in a similar manner to how equality and environmental analyses are conducted today.

At the beginning of the parliamentary term, the Minister pointed out that current legislation is sufficient and that there is no need to introduce a rule implying that authorities are obliged to consider how the total defense is affected by a certain decision. Despite this, we see that this does not occur to a sufficient extent.

My question is therefore whether the government is prepared to take some initiatives in light of what I have just said.

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Minister för civilt försvar Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Per Söderlund, for a good question!

I agree with the questioner's assessment of the situation, that is, the urgency of moving forward in the expansion of the new total defense. We are finally starting to reach a substantial pace in that part.

What the government has done regarding the issue is that we have clarified this mission to all emergency preparedness authorities. We have introduced new instructions and new requirements in the regulatory letters and in that way demanded essentially all activities conducted within the framework of the emergency preparedness authorities' work.

My view is therefore that we fundamentally meet what the questioner requests, namely that one prioritizes and highlights in a clearer way the buildup of the total defense, especially in the sectors and activities that are crucial for the robustness and capability of the civil defense.

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Gustaf Göthberg (M)

Mr. Speaker! Yesterday, the Minister for Civil Defence visited Sweden's best city, my hometown Gothenburg. In the city, there are many voluntary defense organizations, and we have a regiment and a home guard that we are very proud of.

In the work of equipping the civil defense in the city, we note, however, that the governing Social Democrats do not fully take the responsibility that can be demanded of them. Hardly any resources are allocated. The issue is not prioritized, and not much is happening.

The government, for its part, takes its responsibility for the strengthening of civil defense. Sweden has now begun to procure grain warehouses, and it was recently announced that 24 preparedness authorities shall cooperate with the business sector through agreements to ensure the availability of goods and services that are critical for society in crisis, during high alert, and during war.

My question is: How will the missions that have recently been announced for the 24 agencies concretely strengthen Swedish preparedness and the Swedish total defense?

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Minister för civilt försvar Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Gustaf Göthberg, for the question! I would like to start by confirming that it was very pleasant to visit Gothenburg – it always is.

The purpose of what Member Göthberg highlights here, that is, the assignment to the 24 authorities, is that they are now to begin signing agreements with companies in order that the Swedish supply preparedness can be strengthened in a long range of areas. Just as was mentioned, Peter Kullgren and the undersigned could earlier this autumn announce that we are now commencing the procurement of grain warehouses. We have already come quite far in the build-up of the supply preparedness within health and medical care with, among other things, national reinforcement resources at Socialstyrelsen.

This is now to take place in more sectors so that the supply preparedness can increase as a whole. Thus, we get a society that is fundamentally more resilient and more robust.

Question time was hereby concluded.

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