Question Time

FÖRSTE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions today will be answered by Minister for Upper Secondary School, Higher Education and Research Lotta Edholm, Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed, Minister for Equality Nina Larsson and Minister for Health and Social Affairs Elisabet Lann.

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/her performance of duties. The question shall therefore not concern, for example, conditions within political parties. Minister for Upper Secondary Education, Higher Education and Research Lotta Edholm answers both general political questions and questions within her own area of responsibility.

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

Adrian Magnusson (S)

Mr. Speaker! When this government took office after the 2022 election, one of the measures that the Liberals took when they entered the Ministry of Education was to forbid the investigation into profits in schools from proposing a profit ban in schools. Now that it has been a few years since the government took office, the problems with limited companies in schools have continued to grow, and the market experiments in Swedish schools have only become worse and worse. Then the Liberals suddenly say that the party is against profits in Swedish schools.

In light of this shift from the party that Minister Edholm represents, I wonder if the Minister regrets the decision to mutilate the ongoing investigation and forbid it from proposing a proper and sharp profit ban.

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! We are now making far-reaching changes in the independent school area. Nothing similar has been done since the independent school reform about 30 years ago. We have just received the final report, which contains a number of different proposals concerning, for example, profit bans in the case of various types of quality problems and so on. We naturally intend to return to the Riksdag with further proposals in this area.

We have also just submitted a proposal, a referral to the Council of Legislation, concerning the principle of public access also applying to the independent school sector.

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

Adrian Magnusson (S)

Mr. Speaker! When one hears what the Minister answers here today and what she says in other contexts, it is painfully obvious for most of us in and outside this chamber that the government will not present any proposals that prohibit profits in schools or even stop the leakage to independent schools via the school funding. It is a leakage that every year costs the taxpayers, the Swedish people, and Sweden several billion kronor.

If the Liberals now think that school is an important issue and if the party really wants to settle the profits, why have the minister and the other liberal ministers at the Ministry of Education not settled these limited company profits but instead locked themselves in with the Sweden Democrats and the Moderates?

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! We are, therefore, implementing far-reaching changes. The first proposal, which concerns only the independent schools (friskolor), was presented the other day. It concerns that the principle of public access will now be implemented so that it will also cover independent schools. But all other investigations, new curricula, new grading systems, regulated working hours, and so on will also apply to the independent schools. We will also return with proposals concerning the independent school sector more specifically.

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

Carita Boulwén (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Among the highest priorities for us in the Sweden Democrats are shortening the healthcare queues, ensuring that patients receive the care they need in a timely manner, and that healthcare staff have reasonable working conditions. The starting point, however, is tough.

During the Socialdemokraternas last eight years in power, the queues in health and medical care more than doubled, and the queues to Bup tripled. Patients had to wait longer, and the healthcare staff faced a higher workload and a tougher working environment. This is still noticeable today.

Therefore, I welcome that the government, with the support of the Sweden Democrats, is now taking measures to reverse the development, so that more people receive care in time and that the staff get better conditions throughout the country.

My question to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs is: Which measures does the Minister consider most important to shorten the healthcare queues? And what concrete measures are required to retain and strengthen expertise, so that capacity increases and the working environment is improved throughout the country?

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

Sjukvårdsministern Elisabet Lann (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for an important question, which however requires a significantly longer answer than can be given in one minute! I would like to start by saying that I hope we will avoid talking about healthcare queues in a year's time. Healthcare queues should not be natural in healthcare. There does not need to be queues in healthcare. According to Swedish legislation, it is the principle of need that shall apply. Patients shall receive care based on need. To reach that, we need to work on many fronts.

The queues we have constitute an enormous problem, a burden on healthcare and a huge occupational environment problem. That is why we are deliberately focusing on shortening the queues here and now. We see it as putting out fires. At the same time, we are working long-term to strengthen and improve the occupational environment and the supply of skills, and also to manage the transition to a strengthened close care in order to reduce the pressure on specialist healthcare and be able to manage more conditions earlier.

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

Carita Boulwén (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer! I appreciate that the government, within the framework of the Tidö agreement, is step by step strengthening the welfare and security for the residents. I also welcome that shorter care queues and better conditions for healthcare staff are being prioritized.

My follow-up question is: How will the Minister ensure that the investments have an impact throughout the country, so that they lead to shorter queues and a better working environment, and how will the results be followed up?

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

Sjukvårdsministern Elisabet Lann (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The government has invested many billions to shorten the queues. From 2025 onwards and also during 2026, the funds are distributed in a new way that enables much more accurate support to the regions. The National Board of Health and Welfare works operationally. A clarified mandate has been received and they work closely with the regions to set goals that are then followed up with the regions.

We see the result of us working in a new way, both with targeted grants and with more operationally close support from Socialstyrelsen.

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

Karin Rågsjö (V)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Health and Social Affairs Elisabet Lann.

During the years 2022–2024, Arbetsmiljöverket inspected workplaces within healthcare. 73 percent were issued requirements for measures. In the care departments of acute hospitals, the deficiencies were even greater: 80 percent did not meet the requirements of the Work Environment Act. The most pervasive deficiency concerned an unhealthy workload and an imbalance between demands and resources.

The Minister's answers in various contexts always return to the monotonous "nationalize healthcare." We have investigated that for two years. We finished that investigation in June 2025, and the answer from six parties was very clear. The investigation did not end with the word "nationalize."

Personnel within healthcare must see that the investments being made are long-term and predictable and that the working environment improves. What does the Minister have to say to the healthcare staff, besides this with nationalization?

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

Sjukvårdsministern Elisabet Lann (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for an important question.

If there is any responsibility that rests on the employer, it is precisely the responsibility for the working environment. That means the government is somewhat limited in what measures can be taken.

I read the member's post on Facebook today. It was a long series of concrete proposals. Much of this work is ongoing. But judging by all these proposals, one could almost believe that the member wants the state to take over the responsibility for the working environment and for health and medical care.

I have called a meeting with the parties who, so to speak, can influence this a bit more. I hope that we can come up with more concrete measures that we can unite around. Today, the work is, in fact, quite scattered.

But, again, the responsibility for the work environment rests incredibly heavily on the employer. And the member is clear in their view on who should have that employer responsibility.

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

Karin Rågsjö (V)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the answer.

So it is like this: The resources to the regions have not been sufficient. For the regions, it was 24 billion SEK in 2024. Something is therefore wrong with your state grants and what goes out to the regions, Minister for Health and Social Affairs. It is obvious.

That the deficiencies are immense, we hear it everywhere – from Läkarförbundet, from Sjukvårdsförbundet, from Vårdförbundet and from Kommunal. Then one should, as the highest hen, if I may put it that way, do something more radical than repeating that everything is the regions' fault.

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

Sjukvårdsministern Elisabet Lann (KD)

Mr. Speaker! It is important to point out that what we can do from a national level, we are also doing. As recently as last week, we presented a competence supply billion that is to strengthen the work in the regions.

Since then, it is the case that money alone does not solve the competence shortage. If there are no people to hire, that is not solved with more money. There is a long lead time when it comes to trained personnel. Therefore, it is pleasing that there are more applicants than in a long time to medical programs and that there are more admitted than ever to nursing programs.

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

Madeleine Atlas (C)

Mr. Speaker! Lund University has recently been ranked first in the world in sustainability. It is impressive. The university's education and research is a feather in the cap for us in Sweden.

Now I think we should ride the wave and ensure that engineering education becomes leading in all its areas – sustainability, energy, AI. We should simply strive to become a technology and innovation country at the forefront. But then we need more engineers. SCB assesses that we need an increase of 40 percent by the year 2035. We need to increase mathematical knowledge. It is not enough that we have a constantly declining Pisa result. And we need to address the fact that students drop out of their education.

I wonder how the Minister intends to increase the ambition regarding the technical education.

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for a very, very important question. I completely share Madeleine Atlas's views on this.

It was pleasing to read about Lund University. It was ranked not only as the best in social sustainability but also as the foremost university in the Nordics, entirely.

Of course, we must make major investments in what is usually called STEM, and that starts already in preschool. We are making investments now. We are revising curricula, course plans, and grading systems. But we must also ensure that more young people choose the natural science program and the technology program so that more people want to become civil engineers. We have also significantly increased the number of educational places in the engineering programs in Sweden, and I do not rule out that we need to continue with that development.

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

Madeleine Atlas (C)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the answer.

I will explain my concern a bit. I studied to become a civil engineer 30–40 years ago. Back then, there were no mobile phones, AI, wars and natural disasters – sort of. Today, the world looks completely different. Technological development is explosive. My four children have all studied, or are studying, to become engineers. When I see their education, I recognize myself very much. Has time stood still?

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! The engineering profession is a profession where one must also develop during the time in one's career. One cannot believe that one is finished when one is a finished engineer. We are now also investing in more short-term educations, for example, continuing education for engineers, so that one can be part of the development that is actually occurring.

But then there is much that one must be good at when one is an engineer – math, physics and so on. It still forms a base.

I thank you for the questions.

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

Annika Hirvonen (MP)

Mr. Speaker! Yesterday, Jomana, 18 years old, visited us in the Riksdag. Jomana came to Sweden as a four-year-old. She had just ordered her graduation cap when the news arrived. Jomana is to be deported alone. Her parents and little brother are allowed to stay in Sweden. She has four weeks to pack up 14 years of her life – 14 years she has lived in Sweden – and move to Egypt, which she has only visited once during these 14 years.

She is one of many who are now affected by the deportations of teenagers because the government removed a provision in the Aliens Act that was intended to keep families together and ensure that those who have established themselves and gained a strong connection here are allowed to stay.

I want to ask the Minister for Education Lotta Edholm how she views the fact that we are now deporting high school students alone, without their families, just in time for them to graduate.

(Applause)

In this speech, Jacob Risberg (MP) agreed.

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! These rules are a consequence of a regulatory framework that has existed for some years. The Government has also seen that this can create problems for diligent families who have come here, followed the rules and so on. It is an issue that we are looking at. We have tasked an investigator to review the rules specifically for family immigration. There are also proposals there that are currently being prepared in the Government Offices.

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

Annika Hirvonen (MP)

Mr. Speaker! There is a proposal that would help a small part of these, but that proposal is an exception. We in Miljöpartiet believe that the main rule should be that families who have moved to Sweden together, and where the parents and younger siblings are now allowed to stay, should be allowed to stay together here. We should not deport Ayla alone to Iran when the rest of the family is allowed to stay here, or Jomana alone to Egypt when the family remains.

There was a rule that had been fully investigated, which you removed, Lotta Edholm. It needs to be introduced quickly, I think. Otherwise, it is too late for these young people.

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! The Government has received an investigation on, among other things, those questions, and the proposals are currently being prepared in the Government Offices.

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

Emma Ahlström Köster (M)

Mr. Speaker! With the leisure card, the government has taken an important step to strengthen children's health, community, and participation. Since the launch in September 2025 – note that we have only had the card for a few months – more than 340,000 children have downloaded the card. More than 200,000 have already used it. 26,000 of them come from Skåne, which I represent.

The leisure card can be used by all children between 7 and 16 years old, but for those coming from households receiving housing allowance, the amount is significantly higher. On January 5, 2026, the basic amount was also increased further.

I wonder: Why has the government chosen to increase the appropriations, and who is actually the winner when our children use the leisure card?

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

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Emma Ahlström Köster, for the question and for highlighting what is happening now, namely that even more children are getting the chance to an active and meaningful leisure time when we both increase the leisure activity grant to 2,500 kronor per year for those in financial need and also give everyone who turns seven during the year the chance to try percussion or parkour, trampoline or trumpet or something else entirely that brings joy and community!

The reason for this is simple: We have done exactly what we said we would do. We took some administrative costs at the beginning, and now we have pushed them down. Thus, we can both increase the amounts and offer the leisure card to many more.

Furthermore, we are now making it easier for the associations to join when we integrate the leisure card with the association systems that associations use. It feels fantastic – 6,000 associations have already joined, and more and more children and young people are downloading this card and getting better opportunities. Especially those who have it tougher should not be denied the opportunity to an active and meaningful leisure time.

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

Emma Ahlström Köster (M)

Mr. Speaker! Expensive and inefficient – that is how it sounded a few months ago. At the same time, there are measurements that show that as many as 26 percent of the 300,000 children who we believe are furthest away and had no activity at all now potentially have it.

If this figure is correct, what does it indicate?

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

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! It just shows that we need to do new things to reach the children whom we have not been able to reach so far, so that they can have an active and meaningful leisure time. It is not enough to do exactly what has been done previously and expect a different result.

That is the reason why we are doing this now, and I think it feels fantastic that so many have already taken part in this. Many more can, however, get the chance, and we shall now help each other spread knowledge that this opportunity exists. I am so glad that 6,000 associations have already joined. It could be many more!

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

Christian Carlsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! We Christian Democrats choose care. We work so that those who are ill can receive care in time. When the Christian Democrats governed the Ministry of Health last time, during the Alliance years, the care queues were halved compared to when Göran Persson and the Social Democrats governed Sweden. Thereafter, when Magdalena Andersson and the Social Democrats had the chance for eight years, the care queues more than doubled. The care queues were record-long even before the pandemic, and that has caused very many people to be caught in the squeeze.

One of the Christian Democrats' most important focuses ahead of the 2022 election was to cut the healthcare queues so that more people could receive care in time. My question to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs is: How has it gone for the government with the work to shorten the healthcare queues?

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

Sjukvårdsministern Elisabet Lann (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thanks to the member for an important question!

Just as the member emphasizes, this was an important issue for the Christian Democrats, but it has also been an important issue for this government. This means that we have taken measures on many levels and are working on many fronts, and now we are beginning to see the effect of it.

The care queues do not depend on a single factor, but there is more capacity in the system than has been utilized until now. By, for example, directing state grants to specific interventions, we have been able to clearly cut the queues in some areas.

In total, we now see that the queues have decreased by 25 percent if we compare with just before the election, adjusted for seasonal variations. We are therefore not picking individual months to produce the statistics we want, but it is long-term trends we see.

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

Christian Carlsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! It is clear to everyone except possibly Magdalena Andersson that when the Social Democrats rule Swedish healthcare, care queues are created. When the Christian Democrats rule, the care queues are cut instead.

But even if the trend is now broken and the healthcare queues are decreasing and are 25 percent shorter, it is still too many people who are waiting for care. What should we do to maintain the positive trend and ensure that the healthcare queues continue to decrease?

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

Sjukvårdsministern Elisabet Lann (KD)

Mr. Speaker! We have appointed a queue coordinator who works across the country and closely follows the regions' work regarding shortening healthcare queues. This involves, for example, identifying what obstacles exist for utilizing care in other regions and with other providers. It is important for the government to maintain this positive trend.

I would like to take the opportunity and conclude my contribution by congratulating the member on their birthday!

(Applause)

(FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER: We agree with the congratulations.)

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

Joar Forssell (L)

Mr. Speaker! One almost wants to sing "Yes, let him live" here in the speaker's chair, but I shall use my time for something else.

I have a question for Minister Edholm. Around the world, the freedom, autonomy, and independence of colleges, universities, the research world, and the entire academy are being challenged, sometimes by authoritarian leaders, sometimes by pressure from other states. In the United Kingdom, we have seen how China has exerted pressure on individual universities and colleges. In other parts of the world, we see that the pressure comes directly from states that are moving in a more authoritarian direction.

The government has presented that an investigation shall be conducted on how to ensure that the colleges and universities in Sweden become more independent. My question to Minister Edholm is therefore what the government envisions that we should do to ensure that academic freedom is preserved so that colleges and universities can conduct their activities in the way they themselves deem best.

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you for a, unfortunately, important question!

It is exactly as the member says: In many parts of the world, but also in Sweden, academic freedom is restricted, both for individual researchers and for our educational institutions, through the system that we have today.

Therefore, the government will this summer receive an investigation concerning the integrity and freedom of individual researchers. Today we see that many feel restricted by, for example, foreign powers; there are investigations that show this. We have also just appointed an investigation concerning how our educational institutions should become more independent from the state and not be authorities in the same way as they de facto are today.

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

Joar Forssell (L)

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

It is exactly as the Minister says, a very serious situation, both here and in other countries. There is increased pressure from foreign powers, but there are also countries in the world that are moving in an authoritarian direction. We need to protect our universities, colleges, and researchers from this type of pressure.

My continued question is therefore: Which other countries in Europe are we looking at as we move forward with the work of protecting researchers and academic freedom?

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! It is important to understand that we do not live in a vacuum. Both Denmark and Finland have, in relatively recent times, increased academic freedom – quite simply increased the degree of freedom of the universities.

It will be important for the investigation to look at that, among other things, and I am very happy to be able to say that the heads of the universities and colleges truly welcome this investigation. It is needed for many different reasons.

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

Azra Muranovic (S)

Mr. Speaker! I would like to ask Minister Edholm about the Liberals' position here in the Riksdag regarding profit-seeking in schools.

The Minister has today referred to the fact that she intends to return with proposals concerning private school groups. I believe that the Swedish people need to receive clear statements on the Liberals' position, not references to future directions or delimited parts of private school groups.

When it comes to the profit interest in schools as a principle, is it something that the Liberals intend to push for to counter it or not? The Social Democrats have on repeated occasions presented proposals to ban profit extraction in schools, and in those cases, the Liberals have voted no. If the Liberals intend to push for a profit ban in schools, Lotta Edholm, will you then vote with the Social Democrats?

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! Just as the Speaker pointed out at the beginning, I want to say that I naturally answer for the government's positions and what we intend to do in the area. If one wants to know what the Liberals more specifically consider, one can go to the Liberals' website and read this.

The government is now taking many measures to remove deviations in the friskola sector. This week, we presented a referral to the Council of Legislation regarding the principle of public access also applying in the friskolor. We also intend to proceed with the proposals that have been submitted in various rounds when they have been out for consultation. Many proposals make it significantly harder to take out profit. For example, there will be a profit ban in cases of major quality problems.

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

Azra Muranovic (S)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Lotta Edholm, for the answer!

I have read on the Liberals' website that you are in favor of stopping the pursuit of profit in schools. Therefore, I wonder if you have the ability to get the other government parties on board on this.

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! We are continuing to work on the various proposals that exist. A number of different investigations have been carried out. The first step is, just as I said, this with the principle of public access. More proposals will be submitted.

We are also continuing to work on proposals regarding new curricula, a new grading system and so on, to for example ensure that grade inflation will no longer be possible.

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

Robert Stenkvist (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question also goes to Minister Edholm. SVT has highlighted the long-standing issue of international students entering programs only to leave the studies shortly after the start of the term and instead take a low-wage job, for example as a Foodora courier. At three smaller higher education institutions, no fewer than 106 students dropped out of their studies shortly after the start of the term, and it can be assumed that it looks the same across all of Sweden.

Swedish educational institutions hire recruiters abroad. In some cases, these recruiters teach how to falsify bank accounts to be admitted more easily. The same recruiters lure people with the promise that they can work as much as they want. It is no secret that in many cases, it is simply about getting into Europe.

Question one: When will a formal proposition regarding stricter rules for international students be submitted? And question two: Will the tightening of rules that is underway be sufficient to stop the cheating?

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! We have just reached a decision on a Government Offices referral that will make it easier for students and researchers to stay in Sweden, for example after they have defended their thesis. Too many leave Sweden when they are finished with their education.

The Board of Directors requests a stricter regulatory framework, and it is coming. For example, one will not be able to work as much as one wants, but a maximum of 15 hours per week. We are also tightening the requirements for study results. There is now a Government Offices referral regarding these tightening measures.

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

Robert Stenkvist (SD)

Mr. Speaker! This is, as said, an old, known problem. Nothing happened during the Social Democrats' eight years. The National Audit Office suggested some other tightenings, including, among many other things, the requirements for sufficient English language skills. Could it become relevant to tighten the rules further as time goes on if it turns out that they are not sufficient?

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! It remains to be seen, but one must remember that students are admitted on the same terms regardless of where they come from. It is assumed, for example, that one has sufficient knowledge of English for it to work. The problem of insufficient knowledge upon arrival is solved with significantly stricter requirements when it comes to completing the studies – otherwise, one cannot stay. I believe that the tightenings will make a big difference.

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

Isabell Mixter (V)

Mr. Speaker! In today's DN we can read that Raoul Wallenbergskolan in Lidköping has been granted permission to open a middle school. At the same time, the municipality needs to reduce places in primary school due to a decreased number of children. The result is empty schools that the taxpayers need to pay for.

Center Party member Andreas Bill in the municipality is critical of the school being granted permission to open despite the municipality having shown that it will affect it negatively financially. Even Center Party members, who are eager to defend the market school, thus see that the municipalities are negatively affected by the right of free establishment.

School should be for the children, not for the shareholders. In the government's profit investigation, there are proposals that the municipalities' opinions should be given greater weight. My question to Lotta Edholm is: Why is a veto not proposed? It is, after all, the taxpayers' money that is being wasted on empty school places and profits for the shareholders.

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! This is a very important issue. We have just received an investigation aimed at these problems. That investigation will now be referred, and once the consultation process is completed, we will, of course, move the proposals forward.

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

Isabell Mixter (V)

Mr. Speaker! There are no proposals in that investigation regarding the introduction of a sharp veto. I wonder why the government defends a system where one can establish themselves freely, even though it is palpably negative for the municipalities and for the taxpayers that one is allowed to freely open schools where there is no need.

Lotta Edholm mentioned that very large quality deficiencies are supposed to be an obstacle to being able to take out a profit. Is it reasonable to offer preschool children crispbread and water for breakfast?

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for further questions!

The government is, as mentioned, implementing major changes in the area of independent schools. They also touch upon the question of what the municipalities shall have to say regarding a potential establishment or when a school wants to expand its places. We have just received that investigation in the government, and it will now be referred in the usual manner.

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

Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)

Mr. Speaker! I would also like to ask a question to Lotta Edholm.

Highly competent personnel from other parts of the world are currently leaving Sweden because they see that their security is being undermined. They do not know what their future looks like. Their children are being deported. They see that the Swedish state lacks interest in welcoming people who can contribute to our country.

We are throwing out people who go to work every day, who contribute to the welfare and companies and who earn the wages we consider reasonable on the labor market. Why does the government consider it a sensible way to secure the competence in the Swedish welfare and in Swedish industry?

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! This question touches on many different areas, but I believe it is quite obvious for most that we must create order and clarity in immigration to Sweden. We have far too many who live in a shadow society. There is talk of up to 100,000 people who are in Sweden without having the right to be there. We must do something about this. At the same time, we must attract and lure competent labor to Sweden.

As I mentioned earlier, we must not only attract researchers and students here but also ensure that they want to stay in Sweden. It is in light of that which we present a number of different proposals to the Riksdag on how this shall be made possible.

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

Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)

Mr. Speaker! It would have been wonderful if the government had created order and clarity in the migration policy, but the government is creating chaos. If you are a child of immigrants and are currently between 18 and 21 years old, three or four different rules apply. Some result in you being kicked out as an 18-year-old and some when you are 21, and it depends on the government's policy. If your father gets a permanent residence permit, you are sent out. If he does not get it, you get to stay. It is absurd, and it is a chaos that the government has created.

How does this contribute to making Sweden more attractive for highly skilled personnel?

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! Just as I said in a post earlier in the debate, the government has received an investigation that addresses some of the problems that Niels Paarup-Petersen raises. We will come back to the question. But also important are the major changes that are now taking place to attract both students and researchers to come to Sweden but also to choose to stay here after they have, for example, defended their thesis.

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

Mats Berglund (MP)

Mr. Speaker! This question has been asked by Joar Bohman, who is an intern at Miljöpartiet, to be directed to Lotta Edholm. Joar is sitting up in the gallery today.

After cuts and reduced state support to study associations and folk high schools, many operations have been negatively affected financially. Some have even been forced to close. This has reduced the availability of folk education and culture in society. Since folk education is an important part of Swedish democracy, Joar wonders how the government views the democratic consequences of these cuts.

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! It was a very good question, Mats Berglund, that your student asked me.

Folkbildningen is an important democratic institution in Sweden. It rests on different pillars, and it also rests on different types of funding. When it comes to, for example, the folk high schools, we have added money, among other things so that more education can be provided targeted at people with a foreign background who have difficulty entering the labor market, but also to people with a disability. There we invest a lot of money.

It is important to remember that popular education does not rely solely on state funding. We have seen that the municipalities have cut back very significantly on popular education in recent years. Therefore, I have invited Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner to discuss the issue.

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

Mats Berglund (MP)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Lotta Edholm, for the answer!

Now I have the opportunity to ask a question myself as well. Christer Nylander submitted an inquiry on folkbildningen to the government about one and a half years ago. The inquiry was very well and broadly received by the sector. But I have not seen the government react to the inquiry yet, and I see no bill in the list of bills.

Does Lotta Edholm and the government intend to proceed with Christer Nylander's investigation during the current parliamentary term?

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! This matter is still being prepared in the Government Offices. I have no new information to provide here.

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

Merit Frost Lindberg (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is directed to Minister for Equality Nina Larsson. The equality we have in Sweden today unfortunately does not apply to everyone. A parallel society has emerged through imported honor violence and oppression that resembles Sweden a hundred years ago. It is one of our absolute biggest societal problems.

The government has taken decisive action against this and is now establishing the Council for Women's Peace, which will also work against honor violence and oppression. But despite that the policy has taken decisive action and large steps forward, it is clear that the work against honor violence and oppression is still hindered and complicated by fear of stigmatizing, with the cultural-relativistic view as the basis, something that is also widespread in authorities and other important instances.

My question to the Minister is how she intends to ensure that the work in the council will not be hindered by cultural relativism and continued denial.

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

Jämställdhetsministern Nina Larsson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks to the member for a very pertinent question!

Honor-related violence and oppression is the worst type of violence against women that we see in Sweden today. It is a comprehensive societal problem. It is very important and good that the member highlights the importance of us focusing on and prioritizing the issue of honor-related violence and oppression also in the national council for women's peace. It is definitely something that I take with me and that I intend to do.

It is exactly as the member says: This government has done more than any previous government to counter honor-related violence and oppression. This applies to everything from increased penalties, new legislation, increased resources and better governance to a new gender equality policy sub-goal that makes honor-related violence and oppression visible. This work will not stop with the council. On the contrary, we are now increasing the pace and consolidating efforts moving forward.

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

Merit Frost Lindberg (M)

Mr. Speaker! One of the absolutely most dangerous stages when a woman is subjected to violence in a close relationship is precisely when she is going to try to leave the relationship. It is often there and then that it is a matter of life or death. Therefore, the government has developed a comprehensive exit program that is intended to gather many of the measures needed to provide support throughout the entire process.

When one is subjected to honor-related violence and oppression, special measures are required at the same time. How has the adoption program been adapted based on that?

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

Jämställdhetsministern Nina Larsson (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the member for the supplementary question, which is also very significant.

One reason why the government has made a decision on the new gender equality sub-goal is to make visible, improve, and clarify the management towards honor-related violence and oppression. Just as the member describes, it is all too common that around Sweden we can see how such oppression and violence are relativized out of fear of being called a racist or because one does not want to clash with individuals. One might even be a part of the honor oppression oneself.

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

Lili André (KD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Equality Nina Larsson.

We Christian Democrats have long been clear that equality cannot be reduced to words but must be defended in practice. Garments such as the niqab and burka are not neutral cultural expressions. They are strongly gender-segregated symbols that fundamentally conflict with the principle of women's freedom, empowerment, and participation in society.

We Christian Democrats have in several contexts pointed out that this is ultimately about what kind of society we want, where one can live their life according to the values that characterize Swedish society. In an open society, we meet each other face to face.

Several European countries have already introduced bans on full-face veils in the public sphere with reference to precisely equality, integration, and human rights. Against that background, I want to ask the Minister for Equality: When will decisions regarding a ban on niqab and burka in the public sphere be made?

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

Jämställdhetsministern Nina Larsson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks to the member for an important question!

That type of phenomenon, the all-encompassing veil, is in all respects an ongoing oppression of women and has nothing to do with voluntariness. The government is about to criminalize psychological violence, which will include coercion regarding religious clothing of various kinds but also conversion attempts and other things. Our assessment is that this could be an accurate piece of legislation also in this regard.

The government has also appointed an inquiry into how we can counter honor-related violence and oppression in preschool and school. I look forward to reviewing the inquiry's proposals in those areas.

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

Lili André (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Yes, the niqab and burka have a purpose, namely to make the woman invisible. Full-face veils are not compatible with values of equality in Swedish society.

My question is: When can the minister announce that legislation can be enacted so that Sweden introduces a ban on niqab and burka?

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

Jämställdhetsministern Nina Larsson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Our assessment is that the upcoming legislation criminalizing psychological violence also covers coercion regarding, for example, religious clothing and can have an accurate function in that case as well. It is important to turn over every stone to strengthen the work against honor-related violence and oppression. This is something we will need to continue to do as well.

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

Dzenan Cisija (S)

Mr. Speaker! Sweden already has national digital solutions used in healthcare today, for example for sharing records across regional boundaries. The Government is not interested in taking over and further developing them.

At the same time, the government has tasked the E-health Authority with building a new national digital infrastructure with the goal of improving information exchange. But despite EU requirements, investigations, and roadmaps, there is still no information, after three and a half years, as to when this will provide concrete benefits in healthcare.

I would like to ask the Minister for Social Affairs: Has the government decided in which year the national digital infrastructure shall be implemented and functioning in healthcare, so that the regions can plan?

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

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

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

We are doing something that Sweden has not done until now: We are saying that the state shall take a greater responsibility for the digital infrastructure – so that there is an infrastructure that reaches all healthcare providers, so that we are in complete agreement on which rules shall apply so that information can be exchanged, and so that patient data follows every patient, regardless of which region they happen to live or be in, or which healthcare provider they happen to turn to. This has not worked in Sweden with the voluntary cooperation we have relied on. That is why we have said that we shall replace and complement what already exists and do something that actually achieves something.

This is one of the most underrated reforms that we are working on to create better patient safety and better benefit for the healthcare workers instead of them having to sit and enter data into different systems.

The first steps have already been taken. In June, further things will happen. Then this will be rolled out successively and create benefits for patients and for the healthcare workers.

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

Sara Gille (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The Minister for Equality has recently suggested in Arbetsvärlden that the parental leave benefit (vab-ersättning) should be increased to encourage more fathers to take out leave for the care of a sick child. The ambition may sound good, but the setup risks becoming skewed. In practice, it means that the state wants to increase the benefit to get men to take a responsibility that many women already take. In many families, it is actually not a lack of will that decides, but how the everyday puzzle can be put together.

At the same time, the problems are greater than parental leave. Women still take on a heavier caregiving responsibility and more often reduce their working hours, and thus receive a lower lifetime income and a lower pension.

My question is addressed to the Minister for Equality. Equality policy must be about real economic consequences and not symbolic politics. How does the Minister justify a proposal that in practice rewards men's responsibility when women take on greater responsibility and additionally pay with poorer wage development and lower pensions?

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

Jämställdhetsministern Nina Larsson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for a very important question!

Economic equality is not what it should be. Economic equality is one of our gender equality sub-goals, and we have an ongoing investigation looking at some of the aspects that the member has now raised. I look forward very much to the investigation's proposals, which will come later this autumn.

Women's wages lag behind when they have children, during the parental leave period but also during the subsequent period when they are at home for childcare. There are several different aspects of this.

Women's wages are generally lower. This government has just presented a bill in connection with the pay transparency directive which enters into force on July 1 this year, which will also have an effect in reducing the unjustified pay gap between men and women.

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

Helena Vilhelmsson (C)

Mr. Speaker! My question concerns the easily accessible violent pornography that is in our children's pockets around the clock. My question is addressed to Minister for Equality Nina Larsson.

It is not like before. The newspapers in the shop, which we would peek at, are replaced by crude, ruthless pornography on the internet, delivered by millions of porn sites, completely openly. While we learned about sex from a sometimes blushing teacher and the newspaper Kamratposten states that for many young people today, one of the biggest sources of sex and cohabitation education is the porn available on the internet. This, of course, gives an incredibly skewed and harmful view of sexuality and consent.

I do not need to read out what the most viewed films are titled. It is inappropriate, and I would probably receive a reprimand from the Speaker afterwards. But for our children, this is completely free to access.

I wonder: What is the minister and the government doing? What measures have been taken to make the internet safe for children? A screen ban in school helps little because the pornographic films are available around the clock. What measures are being planned?

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

Jämställdhetsministern Nina Larsson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thanks to the member for an important question!

Just as the member describes, much misery and values are depicted online and come straight into our children's pockets in a way that we would never accept if it happened on the street or at the kitchen table. We need to increase awareness of this, make it visible, and counter it with full force.

My cabinet colleague Jakob Forssmed and the government have an ongoing investigation regarding age limits on social media, which several of us have pushed very hard. The investigation directive states that other video-sharing sites on the internet should also be reviewed to potentially be subject to age limits. My view is that we definitely need to do that. If we establish age limits for Facebook, it is reasonable to do so also for those types of video-sharing sites.

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

Jacob Risberg (MP)

Mr. Speaker! Today I have received my very pressing question from our exchange student Eliah Lilja, who is also sitting in the gallery and following this question period.

Mental health among young people is often described as a growing problem. But the concept is used broadly – it can range from stress to serious illness.

My question to Social Minister Jakob Forssmed is: When the government prioritizes within this area, what concrete development do you see as most worrying, and how has that analysis guided the priorities you have made during the mandate period?

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

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Jacob Risberg and Eliah Lilja, for an extremely urgent question!

I agree with the view that one must divide mental illness. It has become like a large black cloud hanging over us, where we do not quite see what belongs to life and which we must learn to manage in different ways – that we can do together – and what threatens life, i.e., the serious forms that require the resources of the collective and specialized psychiatry.

We begin by strengthening the resources for child and adolescent psychiatry, because it can be devastating to be in long queues. It is an important part.

Now we move forward with developing new curricula in schools. It is about strengthening knowledge of mental health in school so that one can obtain more of one's own tools to handle situations such as stress and what happens in the body when one experiences different things. One should be able to handle what belongs to life and distinguish it from that which threatens life, where the healthcare system's collective resources are needed. There is much left to do here.

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

Johanna Rantsi (M)

Mr. Speaker! I would like to ask a question to the Minister for Education, Research and Innovation, Lotta Edholm. The question concerns AI and education.

Much has been reported about the AI cheating occurring at our educational institutions. The latest figures show a doubling of the number of suspensions since 2023. A total of 770 students have been suspended since then.

At the same time, AI is an incredibly important tool for the future of work. AI is already used today in everything from research and healthcare to industry, public administration, and education. The ability to understand, use, and maintain a critical attitude towards AI will be crucial for students' future employability and society's competitiveness.

I wonder, Mr. Speaker: How is the government working to address the cheating while simultaneously ensuring that students learn to use AI in a constructive way?

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! Let me first state that cheating with the help of generative AI in no way improves a student's knowledge or generates more knowledge in society. Cheating is cheating, regardless of how it is done.

We have tasked the Office of the Chancellor of the Higher Education Institutions with mapping out how the universities are working with this issue. It is gratifying to see how hard efforts are now being made, for example, to redesign examinations. We see more old-fashioned classroom exams, oral examinations, and so on, in order to address this.

The educational institutions themselves, through SUHF, are currently reviewing whether common national guidelines are needed in this area. I am happy to say that a great deal is happening now. Cheating is cheating, regardless of how it occurs.

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

Ida Ekeroth Clausson (S)

Mr. Speaker! It has been interesting to listen to the answers that my colleagues have received regarding the ban on profit in Swedish schools.

I note that the Liberals are in the government. At the same time, the Liberals say they want to push for a profit ban in Swedish schools. I want to once again try to get an answer from the minister on how the Liberals would vote if a profit ban is taken up in the Riksdag again. Would the Liberals vote yes or no?

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

FÖRSTE VICE TALMANNEN

I remind that the questions should not be about conditions within political parties.

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! The answer will be the same as before. We are now working on the largest change of the free school sector since the free schools were introduced on a broad front more than 30 years ago. We have begun the work to, among other things, ensure that the principle of public access also applies to independent schools from now on.

We are working on a number of different proposals that will stop profits when, for example, there are major quality problems in the friskolor, and we will continue that work. We have just received the latest investigation in that area.

I can state that during the eight years when the Social Democrats were responsible for this, they did very little about the problems that could already be seen at that time.

(Applause)

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

Christian Lindefjärd (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Several hundred thousand people in Sweden today live with rare diagnoses and are in need of so-called orphan drugs.

Despite the fact that Sweden is often highlighted as a leading life science nation, we today lag behind many other European countries when it comes to approving and making new medicines available. One contributing cause is the Swedish model, where two separate actors – TLV on one side and the regions within the NT Council on the other – are responsible for the assessment and introduction of new medicines.

This procedure often leads to long and resource-intensive processes, which results in patients with great medical needs having to wait significantly longer for treatment compared to patients in other EU countries. The slow process risks not only worsening the quality of life and survival for patients with rare diagnoses but also undermines, in the long run, Sweden's position as a leading life science nation.

What measures does the government intend to take to ensure that more orphan drugs can be approved and introduced faster in Sweden, so that patients with rare diagnoses get access to necessary treatment without unreasonable delay?

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

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Christian Lindefjärd, for a very pressing question that affects many people!

I truly feel the frustration that many express when one knows that there are medicines that can help, cure, and alleviate, but that one cannot really get access to.

The government is actively working on the issue of orphan drugs. We prioritize it highly. We have previously tasked the Dental Care and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency to review how they work with this issue. Since a year ago, there has been a new way of working where medicines for rare diseases and conditions are valued higher than they have been previously. I have hopes that this will lead to improvements, but there are, of course, reasons to follow the development.

The committee members pointed out the other part of the pharmaceutical system, which lies with the regions. They need to ensure that the NT Council has the capacity required so that there are no unnecessary delays in treatments and other matters.

I can state that the Healthcare Responsibility Committee has pointed out that the state should take a more unified responsibility for pharmaceutical issues. This is being prepared in the Government Offices.

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

Anne-Li Sjölund (C)

Mr. Speaker! In just a few days, the Olympics will begin, followed by the Paralympics. Then many of us will sit in front of the TV and cheer and feel great pride in our Swedish Olympians and Paralympians, who have put years of hard work behind them. They inspire children, build pride, and show what is possible.

Behind the performance, however, lies another reality. Many elite athletes struggle with finances, combine training with work and studies, and worry about life after their careers. Today, elite athletes are even forced to pay to compete for Sweden. Sweden must be able to afford both breadth and excellence. No one should have to go into debt to wear blue and yellow.

I would therefore like to ask Jakob Forssmed: How does the government want to ensure safer conditions for Swedish elite athletes, including para-athletes, so that they can compete at the top level without their everyday lives or their futures crashing?

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

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

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

Many of us look forward to this, and the fantastic Swedish sports movement delivers time and again in the Olympics and Paralympics. It shows that we are doing things right in the Swedish sports model, where the sports movement has great freedom to independently allocate the 2.1 billion kronor that the state invests in sports every year.

It is about safeguarding a great breadth. The basis for a good elite activity is that many people start and continue. Then, of course, we must constantly review if there are additional things we can do. A good thing is, for example, elite sports-friendly educational institutions.

One thing we are doing now is to review sponsorship and increase the opportunities for the private business sector to support sports that do not have such a large audience but which are still very important for us to invest in. It is something that we are now changing.

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

Noria Manouchi (M)

Mr. Speaker! In Sweden, approximately half a million people live with a rare health condition. It takes an average of seven years to receive a diagnosis, and Sweden has for a long time been one of the few countries in the EU that lacks a national strategy for rare health conditions.

When we got a Moderate Prime Minister, a mandate was given to the National Board of Health and Welfare to develop a national strategy for rare health conditions. My question to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs is when we can expect that strategy to be in place and what the implementation will look like.

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

Sjukvårdsministern Elisabet Lann (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thanks to the member for an important question!

Globally, it is estimated that there are between 6,000 and 8,000 rare diagnoses. That says something about how incredibly complex this issue is and how difficult it is for this patient group to receive the right care.

Just as the member highlighted here, this government, through my predecessor in the position, has taken the initiative for a strategy, finally. It is not at all far off. We have received it from Socialstyrelsen, and it is now being prepared. The referral responses are being collected and considered, and the final product will be decided upon very soon.

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

Peder Björk (S)

Mr. Speaker! This question period has now lasted for a little over an hour, and several of my colleagues have asked questions to Minister Edholm regarding the profit ban in schools.

Until now, the Minister has not been able to answer that question straight and clearly, but instead we have heard about a lot of other things – and we have been given a reference to the Liberals' website to find out anything more about liberal policy.

Furthermore, Minister Edholm claims that the Social Democrats have done nothing to stop the market school. Nothing could be more wrong. The Social Democrats' government actually presented a proposal here in the chamber, which the Liberals voted against.

I give Minister Edholm another chance to answer this question: Is the Minister prepared to push the government to put a stop to the profits in Swedish schools, yes or no?

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! We in the government are now making the biggest changes to the independent school sector in 30 years, that is to say since the independent school reform was introduced. We are doing this because we see that there are major deficiencies.

We do this through reforms aimed at both the municipal school system and the independent schools. This involves, for example, new curricula and a new grading system that will make it impossible to compete with "joy grades" (glädjebetyg).

We are organizing and regulating Swedish schools in a way that would never have happened with Social Democratic politics. For example, we are regulating access to real textbooks and staffed school libraries.

We are also making changes that are directed specifically at the free school sector. The first proposal has now been put on the table and concerns the principle of public access. We also have a number of proposals concerning exactly what the member is looking for, namely the regulation of profits. We will return to that issue.

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

Karin Sundin (S)

Mr. Speaker! I have a question for Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed.

Vaccinations are an effective way to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Thanks to general vaccinations, many diseases have almost completely disappeared from Sweden and the world, but there is more to be done.

The Public Health Agency recommends the shingles vaccine for everyone who is 65 years and older. But it is expensive – the two injections needed cost approximately 5,000 kronor. In other countries, society pays part of or all of that cost, but not in Sweden.

We Social Democrats believe that the government should review whether today's vaccination program for risk groups can be converted into a broader program for everyone over 65 and whether it can also include the shingles vaccine.

My question is whether the Minister for Social Affairs really thinks it is reasonable as it is today – that it is only older people with good finances who can follow the Public Health Agency's recommendations and protect themselves against shingles.

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

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thanks to the member for the question! Yes, what is more beautiful in the world than effective vaccines in healthcare?

We are now eradicating chickenpox. We will introduce it into national vaccination programs. It feels incredibly good. We are lifting that burden from parents and children who in that way will be spared the painful disease.

The shingles vaccine is also an opportunity to work against a very painful disease. We have not received any documentation from the Public Health Agency regarding it being included in a national vaccination program. The recommendations exist. There is nothing preventing the regions from stepping in and, for example, subsidizing this for their regional residents.

That is the arrangement we have had so far for this. But we know that there are proposals from the Healthcare Responsibility Committee that the state should in the future take a greater responsibility for the vaccination work also in a broader sense. That is something being prepared in the Government Offices.

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

Jonathan Svensson (S)

Mr. Speaker! Several of my Social Democratic colleagues have asked Minister Edholm what her position is on the Swedish market school and a profit ban within it.

We Social Democrats have several times placed concrete, actual proposals on the floor of the Riksdag regarding a stop to profits in Swedish schools. Time and again, the Liberals have said no to those proposals. I cannot interpret it in any other way than that the Liberals continue to stand up for a Swedish market school with a profit interest, where the students' support is prioritized after the limited companies' large profits.

This is what we Social Democrats are strongly critical of. That is why we have repeatedly placed actual proposals before the Riksdag.

I want to ask Minister Edholm one last time: If we submit another such proposal, will the Liberals support it?

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

Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! One does not get different answers when asking the same question. I hope the member understands that.

I have here tried to demonstrate what the government is doing regarding the shortcomings we see in the independent school sector. We are now making the biggest changes in 30 years. I have, for example, stated that we have now presented proposals that the principle of public access should also apply to the independent schools. It is a proposal that this government is making. We will also present proposals regarding the profit interest in the independent school sector.

But it is also important to point out that this question period is directed at us who represent the government's views and what the government intends to do. I think it is important to stick to that principle, which has actually been established by this assembly.

(Applause)

Question time was hereby concluded.

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