Response to interpellation 2025/26:416 on Funktionsrätt Sveriges audit
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
1 M argues that the government's policy is based on the UN convention and that they are working with a national action plan, model municipalities, and a national coordinator to achieve the goal of equality 1. 2 M emphasizes that they are preparing recommendations from the UN and that all ministers are responsible for functional rights within their portfolios 2. 3 M argues that V bears responsibility for the situation worsening over eight years and that the government is now taking measures to improve the situation and provide municipalities with better conditions 3. 4 V argues that the government prioritizes themselves and the wealthiest ahead of persons with disabilities 4. 3 M considers that ten model municipalities are important to lead the work and reach the national goal for disability policy 3. 3 M argues that they are carrying out a number of things, such as the proposal for an interpretation service and the National Competence Center for Intellectual Disabilities and Autism, which constitutes much more than during the previous eight years 3. 5 M claims that they have taken the initiative for a nationalization of assistance and are working in dialogue with disability organizations 5. 5 M argues that it is the responsibility of municipal management to make assessments regarding support and guidance 5.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Socialtjänstministern Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)
Mr. Speaker! Nadja Awad has asked me what measures I intend to take within my area of responsibility in light of the conclusions that Funktionsrätt Sverige has reached in its latest review, why I and the government have not made a decision to make the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into law, and finally what concrete measures I intend to take to ensure that the convention's rights are fully implemented in Swedish legislation and in practice.
The government's disability policy is based on the national goal for disability policy. The goal is to, with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a starting point, achieve equality in living conditions and full participation for persons with disabilities in a society with diversity as a basis. The goal shall contribute to increased equality and to ensuring that the children's rights perspective is taken into account.
It means that the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities forms the basis for the policy being pursued. The Government is taking several measures to strengthen the work to achieve the national goal for disability policy.
The Government is working, among other things, on developing a national action plan for disability policy. In December last year, the Agency for Participation presented its mandate to develop a proposal for such an action plan. Over 30 agencies from different areas of society participated in the work to develop the proposal, which is now being prepared in the Government Offices.
For the rights in the convention to have full impact, of course, the local and regional levels also need to contribute within their areas of responsibility. Therefore, the government has tasked the Agency for Participation with providing support to municipalities and regions in their implementation of the disability policy. The support shall be provided in the form of coordination, knowledge support, training, and dissemination of good examples.
The assignment includes allocating funds to municipalities that will be able to work more specifically with disability policy, so-called model municipalities. In a first round, ten municipalities have been designated as model municipalities.
The hope is, of course, that their work and lessons will be able to serve as inspiration and help to more municipalities. The assignment is calculated to continue until the year 2031.
To further strengthen the work of implementing the disability policy, the government is working to appoint a national coordinator for the disability policy. The coordinator shall contribute to increased knowledge about the rights of persons with disabilities in society and increase the coordination of various actors' efforts toward the goal of the disability policy.
As I and other ministers have previously stated, Sweden has received recommendations from the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities regarding the incorporation of the convention into Swedish law. These recommendations are currently being prepared within the Government Offices.
Nadja Awad (V)
Mr. Speaker! Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and his ministers are living the world's best lives and have the power to decide whether others shall also get to live the world's best lives. But people with disabilities feel very unfairly treated.
When Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wants to take a toilet break, no one takes the time to see how many minutes it takes. But a person with a disability needs to state in minutes and seconds how long it actually takes in order to be able to receive assistance from a municipality or an authority.
Vice Prime Minister Ebba Busch can have a good home-cooked meal every day, but Susanne in Långshyttan, who has lost her assistance after having it for 30 years, will only get a home-cooked meal if her friend can help. Therefore, Susanne is currently considering committing a crime in order to be able to receive the support she needs in prison.
When Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson, as a Member of Parliament, received grants for double housing, she could later become Finance Minister. But Maria in Karlsborg, who needs assistance, becomes liable for repayment of over 1 million kronor even though it is Försäkringskassan that has made a mistake.
On the same day that the leader of the Sweden Democrats, Jimmie Åkesson, received a salary increase of 2,900 kronor, those with sickness and activity compensation also received an increase, but only by 85 kronor.
Labor Market Minister Johan Britz has given himself and the billionaires tax cuts instead of investing in so that Evelina, who is deaf, can get an interpreter at work or investing in increasing the wage subsidy so that Maria, who has autism, will not risk becoming unemployed.
Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson can take a taxi, rent a yacht, or take a flight to travel wherever and whenever he wants. But 11-year-old daughter Tilda has to accompany father Jonas when he is no longer granted transport services. And for Torsten, who is wheelchair-bound and has ALS, there is constant worry when there are snowdrifts, icy sidewalks, and poorly shoveled crossings. During the winter months, he is forced to isolate himself for days.
When Andreas Carlson is housing minister, he makes it easier for young people from wealthier families to move out of home by lowering the down payment for purchasing a home, while other young people, such as Emelie in Helsingborg, cannot even move out of home because she is not granted the support she needs and is forced to be dependent on her parents.
Health Minister Elisabeth Lann is probably one of those who receive the best care in the country, while Lasse, who is deaf, has been forced to undergo surgery twice without having access to an interpreter. "I thought I wanted to take my own life, because it was so terribly awful," he said. And the tax cut that the minister has given herself could well come in handy if she should need assistive devices in the future, while persons with disabilities are forced to pay for their hearing aids, electric wheelchairs, or shower chairs.
When Education Minister Simona Mohamsson wants to ban so-called ugly schools because grand premises give her goosebumps, many probably wonder why she does not instead stop the cuts in Swedish schools for students with disabilities.
Mr. Speaker! This government only seems to care about themselves and the very richest, for their freedom and participation in society are not negotiated away. But that is not the case for people with disabilities and their relatives.
This is also expressed in Funktionsrätt Sverige's review, which this debate is to be about. The Moderates, who also hold the ministerial post for disability rights, received the worst score. They ended up at the bottom of the survey and even received negative points. My question to the minister, who also represents the Moderates, is: How is that?
Socialtjänstministern Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)
Mr. Speaker! I would like to thank the member for the interpellation but also remind the member that I am answering this interpellation in my capacity as a government representative.
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities serves as the starting point for the national goal for disability policy that I have just described. In 2024, Sweden called for a very constructive dialogue with the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Subsequently, the committee issued, in the usual manner, a number of recommendations for Sweden, just as is done for other countries.
After that, I called the disability organizations to me. I understood from them that it had not happened during previous dialogues, but for the government, it was extremely important to base it on what the organizations within disability policy said and what different recommendations they saw – it turned out to be quite many that needed to be prioritized. It was a very constructive and good meeting. The entire dialogue with the disability organizations has been characterized by very great constructiveness.
The Government subsequently gave the Agency for Participation the assignment to ensure that information about the recommendations is disseminated, as access to the information is very important, and that more people can submit their assessments regarding the recommendations. The assignment was reported in February this year, and the report is currently being prepared at the Government Offices.
The government has taken and plans to take several measures in order to achieve the national goal for disability policy. The recommendations therefore form the basis for this. The Agency for Participation is a very important actor in this, and a number of other relevant agencies have also been involved.
All ministers are responsible for disability issues within their respective portfolios, even though the Ministry of Social Affairs is a focal point and my portfolio is a kind of focal point linked to this. To make an impact at local, regional, and national levels regarding the deficiencies we see, authorities within all different segments need to be involved. It also needs to be ensured that the support I initially spoke about, as well as knowledge support and other things, are truly disseminated to create better conditions to involve the regional and local parts and ensure that they fully take their responsibility.
This is an ambitious piece of work that has enabled us now, after having analyzed the challenges that exist and what measures need to be taken, to continue working on preparing these points within the Government Offices.
Nadja Awad (V)
Mr. Speaker! Initially, I would like to point out that Funktionsrätt Sverige's review of the parliamentary parties' disability rights policy ahead of the 2026 election provides an indication of what we have all suspected throughout this entire mandate period.
I understand and am aware that Camilla Waltersson Grönvall represents the government and is not here solely in her capacity as a Moderate. At the same time, the Moderates' response in this review also reflects the government's work on functional disability policy issues throughout the entire mandate period. The issues that they have explicitly said no to actively driving have also not been driven during the entire mandate period.
I can give a few examples. The Minister for Social Services and three other ministers have told me in various previous debates and in today's debate that there is still no decision to make the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into Swedish law – in a similar way as has been done with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. That conclusion therefore aligns well with what we have witnessed throughout the entire parliamentary term.
There are also other things. On the question of whether the party wants requirements to be included in the directives for new government investigations that the consequences of different proposals must always be analyzed from a functional disability perspective, the Moderaterna answered: No, we completely oppose the proposal.
My question to the Minister is: Does the Minister consider it important that the instructions for new government inquiries should contain requirements regarding the consequences of different proposals from a functional disability perspective?
Another question that was included in the review was whether the party wants to investigate increased state control regarding rehabilitation and access to assistive devices. To that, the Moderaterna replied: No, we oppose the proposal entirely. Does the minister also do so?
I am being very clear here and trying to explain that I am now questioning the minister in their capacity as minister, not solely as a Moderate. It is, therefore, actually possible to answer my questions.
Another question concerned stricter school legislation with requirements that school and learning environments be designed to be accessible for all students and an inclusive education in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. On that, the Moderates answered that they oppose the proposal entirely. Does the Minister also do so?
Another question that also concerns the school area was whether one wants to provide additional funds to ensure equal access to highly competent student health services across the entire country. On that, it was also answered that one opposes the proposal entirely. Does the Minister also do so?
On the question of removing the provision in the Education Act that gives schools the possibility to deny students places due to organizational and economic difficulties, it was also answered that one opposes such a proposal. Does the Minister also do so?
I can continue. Another question concerned raising the ceiling for the wage subsidy and ensuring that it is indexed against the development of wage costs. One did not want to proceed with such a proposal. Does the Minister want to proceed with such a proposal?
I have several other such questions, but I can take them in the next round.
Socialtjänstministern Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)
Mr. Speaker! All the parts that we are currently preparing also correspond to our intentions to improve a number of different issues linked to the situation for persons with disabilities.
I know that in a previous exchange of interpellations with the member, I said that it could be interesting to look at what one has previously done when one has had opportunities to influence. It is not uncommon to respond to surveys from a very populist perspective. I may have some understanding for that, but then it is also important to look back and see what one did when one was a supporting party.
Now we shall see if Vänsterpartiet continues to be a supporting party, if it were to become a different currency and we would need to change governments. It is still clear that Vänsterpartiet bears a great responsibility for the eight years during which we saw a change for the worse.
This government is now making a number of different efforts to change this. We are developing knowledge support and various assignments to give the municipalities the conditions to take responsibility for the legislation that partially – or in large parts – is a municipal responsibility.
Like the member, I am concerned that today we see municipalities making different assessments of persons with disabilities who have had the same interventions for perhaps 20 years, even though the needs have not changed. It concerns me greatly, and therefore we have also acted.
The National Board of Health and Welfare has, among other things, been tasked with producing a knowledge base and support so that correct assessments linked to the individual can be made. The Agency for Participation is also a very important coordinating agency in the work with model municipalities, networks, follow-up, and other supporting measures. SKR has also received funds to assist in this work.
I would like to take this opportunity to say that the ten model municipalities Arvika, Grästorp, Kalix, Kramfors, Lessebo, Lund, Orust, Stockholm, Ulricehamn and Umeå will be very important to lead the work, demonstrate good examples and simply reach and achieve the national goal for disability policy.
Here is also the national coordinator, whom we will be able to present in the near future, very important for increasing understanding, knowledge, and not least coordination. The committee's review shows, in fact, that we lack coordination between our different agencies. One example is the proposal on interpretation services with a gateway in that the government is implementing.
Overall, we are doing a number of different things; I could speak more about, for example, the National Competence Centre for Intellectual Disabilities and Autism and about the Elderly Care Initiative (Äldreomsorgslyftet) which now also includes LSS staff. Overall, this constitutes much more over a few years than during the previous eight years when the member's party was a supporting party to the government at that time.
Nadja Awad (V)
Mr. Speaker! It is of no use for me to proceed with the other parts of Funktionsrätt Sverige's review; I will still not get answers to my questions regarding whether the Minister will actively drive these issues even though the Minister's own party will not do so.
I will therefore move on to highlighting that it is once again a matter of placing all responsibility on the municipalities and regions to live up to the goals of the disability policy. I would, however, like the minister to speak a little about his own responsibility, i.e., to be able to present propositions for us in the Riksdag to vote on. We have done very little, hardly anything at all during this parliamentary term, even though the Agency for Participation, the National Board of Health and Welfare, and the Swedish National Audit Office have said that they want legislative tightening, especially regarding LSS. There are a number of different investigations that have been sitting and gathering dust at the Government Offices for several years because the government has not prioritized picking them up. It concerns both personal assistance, transport services, and interpretation services.
When it comes to the municipalities' responsibilities, we can take the city of Gothenburg as an example. Municipal Councilor Marie Brynolfsson has sent a letter to the minister and asked for a dialogue on how the municipality can cooperate with the government in these matters, but she has not received any answer. Why has the minister not responded to that letter?
Socialtjänstministern Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)
Mr. Speaker! When it comes to investigations that have been lying and gathering dust, I can state that it has well never gathered as much dust as during the preceding eight years.
We have been involved in taking initiatives, among others, for a nationalization of the assistance. It is a proposal that is being actively prepared and which the disability organizations have requested. In opposition, we ensured that the Riksdag forced the previous government to produce the investigation which I have had the great privilege of receiving, and I can tell the member that we are now working with it in very good dialogue with the disability organizations, where we are listening very attentively to what they see as necessary to move this forward. They have also explicitly stated that it is better for it to take some time as long as it is done correctly.
I share that view. I wish these questions were a little less complex, but they are very complex, which I believe the member is very aware of.
When it comes to Gothenburg, I think perhaps the Left Party politicians who sit in the leadership in just Gothenburg should reflect on what lies at the basis when, for example, people who are very prominent in Paralympic sports receive completely new assessments, even though their needs have not changed. This is the municipal leadership's responsibility, because there is municipal legislation with LSS. To take away people's support, guidance, and whatever it may be, is therefore about what assessment one makes within the Gothenburg leadership, and the Left Party sits there.
Many thanks for the interpellation debate, which has been illuminating in several aspects! I look forward to new discussions.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.