The National Audit Office's report on the Transport Agency's supervision
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns the Swedish National Audit Office's review of the Transport Agency's supervision, which shows deficiencies in governance, a lack of measurable goals, and an inability to effectively use funds 1 2. S considers that no further measures are needed as the agency is to report on a mission regarding strengthened follow-up 1. SD argues that there are serious competence deficiencies affecting serious companies and proposes an external agency review as well as that company controls be returned to the police 3. M notes that the government shares the criticism and is prepared for further tightening in upcoming regulatory letters 4. C emphasizes the importance of the audit for the improvement work 5. MP argues that clear goals should be established 2. L wants to increase supervision to counter cheating and ensure effective use of tax money 6.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Gunilla Svantorp (S)
Madam Speaker! We are to debate the Swedish National Audit Office's review of the Transport Agency's supervision. The review shows that it is a difficult to manage and complex operation with over 100 areas of supervision. It also shows that the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU has affected the supervision of type approvals, as this activity has increased very much. It also shows that the Transport Agency is requesting more money, but that at the same time they have not used the money they have received. It finally shows that the government has not steered and followed up on the operation to a sufficient extent. Both indicators and measurable goals are lacking.
On November 30 this year, the Transport Agency is to report on a mandate they have received from the government to strengthen the monitoring, analysis, and prioritization of supervision. While waiting for that, we Social Democrats believe that no further measures were needed. The National Audit Office's audits are important, as both agencies and the government gain knowledge about opportunities for improvement.
Madam Speaker! I therefore move for approval of the committee's proposal to submit the communication to the records.
Thomas Morell (SD)
Madam Speaker! The Sweden Democrats move for approval of the reservation in the report.
Madam Speaker! We will now debate the government's communication and the committee's report on the Transport Agency's supervision. The National Audit Office's audit was conducted between the autumn of 2021 and the autumn of 2022. The National Audit Office's report is a sharp criticism of the Transport Agency's supervisory activities. Let me quote an important sentence in the National Audit Office's audit report: "A lack of goals, metrics, and follow-up of the supervisory activities means that it is difficult to follow the development of the operations."
Madam Speaker! I particularly want to elaborate on an argument regarding the follow-up of the supervisory activities. It is obvious that there are deficiencies in competence within the agency, especially when it comes to the supervision of professional transport. The Swedish National Audit Office does criticize the previous government in its report, but the government nevertheless took measures against Transportstyrelsen's inability to perform a qualitative and legally secure control of the transport companies. The measures resulted in some improvements, but much remains.
Could the government have done more? The answer to that question is definitely yes, especially considering the massive criticism from the farming industry regarding the so-called company controls.
Madam Speaker! I have personal experience from the Swedish Transport Agency's supervisory activities because, in my work, I assisted transport companies in legal proceedings regarding inspections where companies had been incorrectly charged sanction fees. In several cases, we were successful in the legal process, and the Swedish Transport Agency received a reprimand from the court.
I have been directly or indirectly involved in a large number of so-called company audits. I constantly follow cases at my employer and can state that there are still deficiencies in the Transport Agency's competence. These are deficiencies that have consequences for serious companies in the form of high sanction fees on incorrect grounds. They are also deficiencies that mean companies that cheat and manipulate literally fly under the radar and escape sanction fees because the Transport Agency does not catch the deliberate cheating.
Madam Speaker! The Swedish National Audit Office's finding that there is a lack of follow-up on the supervisory activities actually highlights a serious deficiency in the Swedish Transport Agency's operations. The industry's criticism of the Swedish Transport Agency's so-called company inspections has been deafening, to say the least. The previous government took measures on two occasions to ensure that the Swedish Transport Agency would get its supervisory activities right. Courts have on a number of occasions ruled in favor of trucking companies against the Swedish Transport Agency's so-called inspections.
Then the given question is: Has it become better? To some extent, the Transport Agency has listened to the criticism, but the most serious problem is still the lack of competence, which shines through in almost every supervisory case. This is something that the new government must ensure is addressed. The Sweden Democrats therefore propose an external agency review in order to streamline the operations. For us Sweden Democrats, a return of the company inspectors to the police is also a priority. That ensures the competence and results in a more efficient control where legal certainty is not sidelined.
Maria Stockhaus (M)
Madam Speaker! The National Audit Office points out deficiencies in the control and supervision of the Transport Agency, and the government shares this assessment. We can state that the National Audit Office's criticism regarding the way taxpayers' money is handled concerning infrastructure, whether it concerns the Transport Agency or the Swedish Transport Administration, is not new and is well worth taking seriously.
The government is investing 900 billion on infrastructure in the current planning period until 2033, and insufficient control automatically becomes very costly both in the short and in the longer socio-economic perspective. The government is clear that it does not rule out further tightening in upcoming regulatory letters. This is an important indicator that the current government is truly taking these issues seriously.
Madam Speaker! I therefore move for approval of the committee's proposal in the report.
Anders Karlsson (C)
Madam Speaker! Having an audit that works is incredibly important for the improvement work of our supervisory authorities. The criticism that the Transport Agency is receiving here is quite tough. I also want to extend a thanks to Member Thomas Morell for his in-depth knowledge in the area.
It is important to see that it is quite serious criticism. I believe the committee must also take that criticism into account in the improvement work moving forward, given that quite a lot came up in the audit.
I move for approval of the committee's proposal to submit the communication to the records.
Daniel Helldén (MP)
Madam Speaker! As has already been said, the Swedish National Audit Office has conducted a review of the Transport Agency's inspection activities and can state that there are problems. The Transport Agency has approximately 100 different areas where it conducts supervision. This concerns aviation, shipping, roads, railways, maintaining traffic safety, reduced environmental impact, and a well-functioning market within the transport sector. It is a gargantuan task to inspect all of this, and the Swedish National Audit Office states that there are deficiencies in the management. The Swedish National Audit Office recommends that the agency should see where the inspection is needed most and where it does the most good. It may seem like a self-evident matter that a large agency cannot keep inspecting everything all the time. Clear goals should also be established for this activity. Some recommendations are directed directly to the government, and the government says that it will work on these matters.
Madam Speaker! I can also find that there is not much more to be done in this case than to approve the committee's proposal in the report, which also emphasizes these matters.
Helena Gellerman (L)
Madam Speaker! Today we comment on the Swedish National Audit Office's report on the Transport Agency's supervision.
Most often, the reports from the Swedish National Audit Office are not something we in the Committee on Transport debate, but rather they emerge as part of other discussions, for example when we talk about railways or roads. This report from the Swedish National Audit Office regarding the Transport Agency's supervision is, however, particularly important because it concerns all goals, requirements, and rules that govern the transport area and how these are to be followed up.
If the follow-up is deficient, the difficulties that different agencies have in carrying out their mandates are not identified. This means that the activities are not directed towards the goals that the Riksdag has set and that the money that has been allocated is not used for the right things. This ultimately means that our tax money is not being used effectively.
It is therefore important that, as the National Audit Office points out, a system is developed that allows Transportstyrelsen's supervision to be measured and followed up. But above all, it is important that the supervision as such is carried out so that we can find cheating in the compliance with our rules. Otherwise—if everyone does not follow what has been decided and can thereby gain an advantage through cheating—we risk, and not just we but the entire society, losing trust in our regulatory frameworks.
I therefore welcome the report. The Liberals intend to push for increased supervision precisely because supervision and follow-up of decided rules are fundamentally important.
I vote in favor of the committee's proposal and thank you for the report.
The deliberation was hereby concluded.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.