Response to interpellation 2022/23:80 on the preparedness at Försäkringskassan
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 preparedness at Försäkringskassan and the security of the social insurance system. M argues that the system is robust and that the agency is well-prepared for crises such as cyberattacks and electricity shortages 1. M considers Försäkringskassan to be competent and to have a high priority on cybersecurity. M argues that the government proposes 7.5 million kronor for the administrative grant to strengthen civil defense 1. S argues that cyberattacks indicate a growing threat and that there is a large amount of recovery work to be done 2. S argues that the budget supplement is a zero-sum game 2. S argues that political leadership is required to ensure that pensions and benefits are paid out on time 3 4.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)
Madam President! Kalle Olsson has asked me how I intend to ensure that Försäkringskassan has the necessary resources and robust systems to fulfill its mission and ensure that payments can be carried out even under disrupted conditions, heightened alert, or even war. Kalle Olsson has also asked me if I intend to take any further measures to strengthen Försäkringskassan's ability to operate under disrupted conditions or even war.
I agree that it is of central importance that the social security system is robust and that people can receive their payments even under strained conditions.
On 1 October 2022, the new structure for society's crisis preparedness and civil defense entered into force. Försäkringskassan has thereby been designated as the so-called sector-responsible authority for the economic security of the preparedness sector and shall, within its preparedness sector, lead the work of coordinating measures both before and during peacetime crisis situations and heightened preparedness. This underlines the authority's important role during disrupted conditions, heightened preparedness, and extreme war. The Government proposes in the budget bill for 2023 that 7.5 million kronor be added to Försäkringskassans administrative grant for increased tasks linked specifically to the sector responsibility.
The experiences from handling the ongoing covid-19 pandemic have contributed to strengthening Försäkringskassan's crisis management work. The agency also has a plan for different situations that may arise, for example, a shortage of or loss of electricity supply or a cyberattack. Even the war in Ukraine has contributed to accelerating the already ongoing work to strengthen civil defense. In addition to the tasks that follow from the preparedness responsibility, Försäkringskassan reports every year its work to strengthen civil defense for the defense decision period 2021-2025.
On 31 October 2022, Försäkringskassan presented its response to the government's mandate to ensure payments from the social insurance during war and threat of war. At the same time, the agency made two proposals regarding the need to strengthen and modernize the legislation in this area.
On 1 November 2022, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency presented its response to the government's assignment to identify needs for measures to strengthen civil defense, including in the area of economic security.
The issue of robust systems and good preparedness is high on the agenda for both the government and Försäkringskassan. I intend to follow the issue very closely, given that it is incredibly important that Försäkringskassan and the social insurance system function during crises and during war - but also because Försäkringskassan also has many other important tasks for other agencies.
Kalle Olsson (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer.
Approximately at the same time as I submitted my interpellation regarding Försäkringskassan's preparedness and ability to fulfill its mission under disrupted conditions and, ultimately, crisis and war, the media reported that the country's a-kassor had been subjected to cyberattacks. It was an attack that resulted in the date for when the a-kassor could pay out their money having to be pushed forward. The unemployed simply had to wait to receive their compensation.
That cyberattacks affect important operations is not a new phenomenon, but this is just one in a series of many examples of how the cyber threat continues to grow and how different types of hybrid attacks repeatedly affect our society.
Somewhere here we approach the core of my interpellation, namely how we maintain society's functionality in the event of a severe crisis or even war. Ultimately, it falls upon the Riksdag and the government to provide direction, set ambition levels and, of course, provide the necessary funding to maintain a good state of preparedness.
Madam Speaker! A great deal has been done during recent years to strengthen our preparedness. But the truth is simultaneously that during the 90s and early 2000s we saw a rather heavy cut in civil defense and that there is therefore a large and urgent work of reclamation to do in many areas. Now, after the change of government, it is truly not the time to slow down the pace in these issues, especially not against the background of the horrific images that have been broadcast from Ukraine for nearly a year.
Against the background of the Moderaterna having, during eight years in opposition, not least in countless chamber debates, maintained a rather high tone and criticized the S-led government for acting sluggishly and doing too little, it is somewhat surprising that the minister in her response does not signal higher ambitions for civil preparedness within her area of responsibility. In the response, the minister mentions that Försäkringskassan receives an extra 7 million in the administrative grant in next year's budget. What she does not mention, however, is that 7 million is deducted from another account concerning crisis preparedness. It is, therefore, almost a zero-sum game.
The Minister further states in the interpellation response that she intends to follow the issue, and that makes me a little concerned. I mean that the task as a Minister is not to follow the issue, but to be driving the strengthening of the economic preparedness and ensuring that important parts of the welfare society also function during times of serious strain. Here, clear political leadership is absolutely necessary.
Let me return to my original question: What needs for additional measures does the Minister consider to exist in order to strengthen Försäkringskassan's ability to operate under disrupted conditions and, ultimately, under war?
Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)
Madam President! I believe that the interpellator and I are relatively in agreement on the importance of this work continuing, and as to whether a minister should be driving the work in an agency, I believe the Committee on the Constitution may have some views on. I follow this issue closely and engage in dialogue with the relevant agencies regarding these very important issues.
It is of great importance that Försäkringskassan can make socially significant payments during both peacetime and heightened alert, and ultimately war. Försäkringskassan is actively working on the issue together with other agencies in the sector for economic security. A proposal on how social insurance legislation can be modernized to meet today's conditions is also on the government's table.
Planning is underway to strengthen civil defense, and funds have been added to Försäkringskassan. Issues concerning Sweden's sovereignty and civil defense are one of the government's most prioritized issues, and work is ongoing in several parts of the Government Offices to strengthen civil defense.
That we consider this to be an important issue and that the Moderaterna previously have had and still have a high level of commitment in the issue will become very clear in the coming year, because we do not take this lightly.
The interpellor mentioned the cyberattacks against other agencies, and we are also following that development. Attacks against the payment system have been identified as one of the greatest risks. The preparedness at Försäkringskassan is high, and the ability to resist disruptions is good. Försäkringskassan is also actively working to constantly strengthen its ability to reduce the vulnerability in the systems.
The Government maintains an ongoing dialogue with Försäkringskassan regarding the development work, the agency's information, and cybersecurity.
Kalle Olsson (S)
Madam President! Let me just remind the Minister that according to the Instrument of Government, it is the Government that governs the realm, so the Minister can absolutely be driving in these matters and set the tone. If the Minister agrees that these are important issues, then it is by all means possible for the Minister to demonstrate a high level of ambition in this area.
In the event that Sweden were to be hit by a serious crisis or total war, it is crucial that the civil authorities also have the ability to perform their tasks. Försäkringskassan is such a central authority that must function even when other authorities and operations may no longer do so.
Every year, Försäkringskassan is responsible for ensuring that around 600 billion kronor in various forms of benefits are paid out in a secure and safe manner to the correct recipients. A large part of the population is, to varying degrees, recipients of Försäkringskassan's benefits.
It is not so difficult to see that an attack against the Social Insurance Agency's ability to make payments would have very serious consequences. Large groups would be left completely or partially without money. For some particularly vulnerable groups with a long-term need for public support, such a situation would become very difficult.
Earlier this autumn, the Director General of Försäkringskassan submitted a communication with the message that the government should appoint an inquiry to thoroughly analyze the need for constitutional preparedness within the social insurance system for various types of crisis situations. The Director General then went on to highlight examples of how the agency in situations of crisis or war can be faced with major strains, for example, large staff shortages and disruptions in IT systems, power supply, and the like. Försäkringskassan thus evidently sees both risks and a need to act proactively while there is still time.
Also, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, MSB, has in its submissions to the government pointed out measures to improve the robustness in this preparedness sector. They point to a need for both additional funding and a general strengthening of the organizations' robustness and the ability to operate across the entire threat spectrum.
To take these issues further, it is necessary for there to be political leadership and for the highest political leadership to take the baton.
My concluding question is therefore: How does the government view the very concrete proposals that I have mentioned and which have been submitted by the authorities? Is there an intention to proceed with any of them?
Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)
Madam Speaker! The cyber threats against Sweden and Swedish interests are extensive and can cause very large problems if the preparedness is not good.
Försäkringskassan has a highly digitized operation, and the issue of information and cybersecurity therefore ranks high on the agenda within the agency.
The Government has previously decided on a new structure for society's crisis preparedness and civil defense, and the new structure entails additional tasks for Försäkringskassan.
As I mentioned earlier, we have added 7.5 million kronor to the budget for 2023, and this will be permanent going forward. Furthermore, Försäkringskassan's appropriation, in the budget bill for 2021, was added funds to strengthen the total defense and intensify the reconstruction of the civil defense during the period 2021-2025. In 2025, the increase in the appropriation is estimated to amount to 20 million kronor for this purpose.
It can be noted that it was first 9 million kronor, that during the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 it was 16 million and that in the year 2025 it is 20 million that has been determined.
The question of ensuring payments is high on the agenda. It is high on Försäkringskassan's agenda, and it is high on my agenda. Let me assure the interpellator that it is also high on the government's agenda.
It is a socially important task, and it is extremely important that it functions both in peacetime, during crises, and in the event of war. Let me assure you that we take this most seriously and that we will drive this issue. We will also ensure that it continues to stand high on the agenda of our relevant authorities within both civil preparedness and defense and within the authorities that fall under my department and in my portfolio.
Kalle Olsson (S)
Madam Speaker! As a representative for the opposition and for the party that, in a government position, has ensured that we have started working on civil defense again, it is my and my colleagues' task and role to follow up on decisions that have been made by the government but also to ask questions about decisions that have not yet been made but which should be made. What we have discussed this evening, I believe, is an example of such a question.
When it comes to Försäkringskassan and the entire issue of economic security, we are still waiting for information and decisions on the way forward.
We live in a very restless time. We see how Russia is currently dropping bombs over Ukraine and how they specifically target civil infrastructure. At the same time, here at home, important operations, municipalities, companies, individuals, and so on are subjected to cyberattacks that affect people and organizations in a very tangible way. The example with the a-kassorna has already been mentioned here.
I therefore expect that the Minister not only follows up on the issue but also continues the work that the previous government initiated to strengthen civil defense in general and economic security in particular - that which we are discussing here tonight. Citizens must be able to trust that the state authorities do what they can so that our elderly receive their pensions paid out on time and that the sick receive their compensations paid out on time, even under disrupted conditions.
The work to strengthen our crisis preparedness and resilience must continue at all times. I envision that we must return and follow up on which measures and steps the government and the Council of State take to strengthen the robustness of Försäkringskassan and other related agencies.
Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)
Madam President! I believe that Kalle Olsson and I are very much in agreement on this issue. I do not hesitate for a second to take over the baton, as was spoken of, and perhaps run even a little faster and do even a little more, given the rather high tail-end position that the Moderaterna have had and the great interest that we have shown for this issue for many years.
Active work is underway to ensure that the work within the economic security sector functions well. Försäkringskassan leads this work in accordance with its sectoral responsibility, and they do so because they are skilled. They have robustness, and they are well-prepared. They have worked for a long time with digitalization, and they have information and cybersecurity high on the agenda.
The central task for the sector is to ensure that socially important payments can be secured during peacetime, high alert, and ultimately war. Försäkringskassan has in its operations placed a great focus on ensuring security also for the other agencies, precisely because they are robust, well-prepared, and skilled at this. They can certainly become even a little better.
Given that we take the baton and intend to drive these issues and make Sweden even a little more secure, I am completely convinced that it can happen in a safe and secure way and at a high pace.
Thank you so very much for the debate! It is truly important. A lot can hang in the balance during a major cyberattack, so it is important that we are on the safe side.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.