The Riks dag Administration - Riksdagen
The Riks dag Administration - Riksdagen
The Riks dag Administration - Riksdagen
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong><br />
2008
Cover photograph: A patch panel in one of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>’s server halls. In 2008, electricity consumption was<br />
cut by 4.5 per cent, a reduction of 450,000 kilowatt hours. <strong>The</strong> reduction has mainly been achieved by cutting<br />
down the number of servers, switching to low-energy light bulbs and through the introduction of new cooling<br />
equipment.<br />
PHOTOGRAPHS: MELKER DAHLSTRAND<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> 2008 is intended to give a brief overview of<br />
the work that takes place behind the scenes to support the decision-makers<br />
in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>. <strong>The</strong> brochure has been prepared by various departments<br />
in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> and is based on information previously<br />
published in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong>’s Annual Report for 2008<br />
(2008/09:RS2). <strong>The</strong> Annual Report is available on the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> website.<br />
Production: <strong>The</strong> Information Department of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
ISSN: 1653-8307<br />
ISBN: 978-91-85050-83-3<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> 2008 can be downloaded in PDF format from<br />
www.riks <strong>dag</strong>en.se under the heading “Beställ”.<br />
A print version can also be ordered free of charge from: <strong>The</strong> Department<br />
for Parliamentary Documents, 100 12 Stockholm, Sweden.<br />
Telephone: +46-8-786 5810, fax: +46-8-786 6176<br />
E-mail: ordermottagningen@riks <strong>dag</strong>en.se<br />
Internet: www.riks <strong>dag</strong>en.se<br />
Other information and study materials produced by the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
can also be ordered on the website.
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong><br />
2008<br />
T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8 | 3
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> Board. <strong>The</strong> members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> Board decided to make the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> greener and introduced an<br />
environmental management system – ISO 14001. <strong>The</strong> Board decides on the planning of the work of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> and is headed by the<br />
Speaker Per Westerberg.<br />
Seated, from left: Roger Tiefensee (Cen), Liselott Hagberg, Third Deputy Speaker (Lib), Birgitta Sellén, Second Deputy Speaker (Cen),<br />
Secretary-General of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> Anders Forsberg, Speaker Per Westerberg (Mod). Standing, from left: Stefan Attefall (ChrDem), Ulf<br />
Holm (Grn), Berit Andnor (SocDem), Lars Lindblad (Mod), Sven-Erik Österberg (SocDem), Magdalena Andersson (Mod), Margareta<br />
Israelsson (SocDem), Margareta Pålsson (Mod), Leif Jakobsson (SocDem), Morgan Johansson (SocDem) and Allan Widman (substitute<br />
for Johan Pehrson) (Lib).<br />
4 | T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> 2008<br />
A GREENER RIKS DAG<br />
<strong>The</strong> Baltic Sea at risk, climate change and<br />
endangered species in our Swedish fauna.<br />
Environmental problems attract attention<br />
and cause people to take action. Be it about<br />
sorting household refuse or demanding major<br />
political changes. <strong>The</strong> members of the<br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> represent the people of Sweden<br />
and are their voice in Sweden’s supreme<br />
decision-making assembly. In 2008, there<br />
were many forums in which our elected<br />
representatives could debate environmental<br />
issues, including the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>’s Future Day.<br />
This event brought together researchers<br />
and MPs to enable an exchange of views on<br />
issues that will come to affect us for many<br />
years to come.<br />
<strong>The</strong> most important task of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
<strong>Administration</strong> is to give members of the<br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> the support and services they need<br />
to carry out their political responsibilities.<br />
A greener <strong>Administration</strong> is an ambition<br />
shared by MPs and the <strong>Administration</strong><br />
alike. This is why the <strong>Administration</strong> made<br />
great efforts in 2008 to become ISO certified<br />
by 2009 for our systematic environmental<br />
work. This brochure gives a brief presentation of the<br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong>’s work in 2008. For natural reasons, we<br />
have chosen to focus a little extra on the measures we have taken<br />
for a better environment.<br />
Anders Forsberg<br />
Secretary-General of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
Towards a greener <strong>Administration</strong>. Secretary-General<br />
Anders Forsberg with one of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>’s own bicycles. Bicycles<br />
are available on loan to transport members and employees of<br />
the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> to their various meetings around town.<br />
T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8 | 5
Our task: supporting the work of members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
in the Chamber and in committees<br />
EVERY YEAR THE RIKS DAG takes thousands of decisions that affect people’s<br />
everyday lives. <strong>The</strong> Chamber and the committees are the hub of the work of the<br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>. <strong>The</strong> task of the <strong>Administration</strong> is to ensure that the machinery is welloiled.<br />
6 | T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8<br />
“ <strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> Chamber is like the heart of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>. This<br />
is where our elected representatives debate issues that<br />
concern each and every one of us. <strong>The</strong> Secretariat of<br />
the Chamber in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> ensures<br />
that the planning of the work of the Chamber is as<br />
smooth as possible. It is here that all documents in the<br />
form of Government bills, private members’ motions<br />
and interpellations are received and registered. Sometimes<br />
things do not turn out as planned. In 2008, a<br />
number of Government bills were submitted to the<br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> that had not been planned in advance.<br />
<strong>The</strong> committees provide the Chamber with background<br />
material for decisions. <strong>The</strong> Chamber is dependent<br />
on these background materials from the committees,<br />
which in parliamentary terms are known as<br />
committee reports. Each committee is like a miniature<br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>, which means that the larger parties have<br />
more seats than the smaller parties.<br />
<strong>The</strong> officials in the committees are politically impartial and help<br />
members from all parties represented in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>. <strong>The</strong>y retain their<br />
jobs even if there is a new political majority following an election. <strong>The</strong><br />
officials become experts in their committees’ subject areas, but do not<br />
include any party-political values in their assessments.<br />
CRISES AND TURBULENCE ON THE TABLE<br />
OF THE COMMITTEES<br />
During the autumn, the Government submitted five bills on the subject<br />
of the financial crisis. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> had a short time in which to consider<br />
the proposals, a situation that made planning and flexibility crucial.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Head of the Secretariat of the Committee on Finance Ingvar Matt-<br />
financial crisis<br />
and recession mean more<br />
work for the Committee<br />
on Finance where I work.<br />
Head of the Secretariat of the Committee on<br />
Finance Ingvar Mattson about the autumn of 2008.
“ Never<br />
45–54 år<br />
son speaks of an intensive autumn with many long meetings in the spot-<br />
35–44 år<br />
light of the media.<br />
25–34 år<br />
Another committee that received attention during the year was the<br />
–24 år<br />
Committee on Defence. Dramatic, overwhelming and complicated. This<br />
Kvinnor 57 % Män 43 %<br />
is how Head of the Secretariat of the Committee on Defence Ingemar<br />
Wahlberg describes the many turnabouts in connection with the decision<br />
on signal surveillance. When the Committee started to consider the<br />
matter in April 2008, the media and bloggers were silent. <strong>The</strong> public debate<br />
became heated about two weeks before the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> was due to take<br />
its decision in mid-June. <strong>The</strong> formal procedure for the handling of the<br />
matter was complicated and required in-depth knowledge of the <strong>Riks</strong><strong>dag</strong><br />
Act’s rules on deferment and reconsideration.<br />
In addition to the lobbying and all the legal turnabouts, the signal surveillance<br />
decision was technically complicated. In the committee secretariat,<br />
thorough preparation and background reading were required for<br />
a full understanding of the matter. Issues relating to the<br />
technicalities of surveillance tend to be rather complex.<br />
So how satisfied are the members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> with<br />
their committee secretariats? A survey conducted in 2008<br />
shows that, on a ten-point scale, the MPs give the committees<br />
8.8 points for service and competence.<br />
Another of the committees’ tasks is to follow up decisions.<br />
Was the result as the members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> expected?<br />
During the year, the committees carried out 13<br />
follow-ups, a number of which had an environmental perspective.<br />
Examples include the status of Swedish fishing<br />
Head of Secretariat Ingemar Wahlberg<br />
waters, our marine environment and the role of renew-<br />
on the Committee on Defence’s consideration<br />
of the Signal Surveillance Act.<br />
able fuels.<br />
before have<br />
I experienced a matter that<br />
has sparked such strong<br />
reactions.<br />
2008<br />
2007<br />
Ärendebehandling<br />
Consideration of business<br />
Interpellationssvar<br />
Replies to interpellations<br />
Debatter Debates m.m. etc.<br />
Frågestund Question-and-answer sessions<br />
Voteringar Votes<br />
Information från from regeringen the Government<br />
Övrigt Miscellaneous<br />
<strong>The</strong> work of the Chamber. <strong>The</strong> volume of work in 2008 reveals a slight<br />
increase in the number of hours of work in the Chamber compared with 2007<br />
(approx. 5 %). <strong>The</strong> increase mainly concerns the total time for legislative debates.<br />
<strong>The</strong> number of motions during the general private members’ motions period was<br />
the highest during this current electoral period.<br />
60– år<br />
55–59 år<br />
T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8 | 7
ON THE BALL WITH EU AFFAIRS<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> needs to be on the ball at all times as regards<br />
developments in the EU. All 349 members should have the<br />
chance to work with EU issues. <strong>The</strong> idea is that greater involvement<br />
among our MPs will give our citizens more influence<br />
in the EU.<br />
Every year the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> receives over a thousand documents<br />
from the EU, which must be read by the MPs. Charlotte Rydell<br />
is responsible for coordinating EU issues at the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>. It’s not<br />
just the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> that adopts laws affecting people in Sweden.<br />
<strong>The</strong> EU also takes decisions that we have to comply with.<br />
“EU decisions have an impact on our everyday lives. That’s<br />
why it’s important that our elected representatives have their<br />
say in the making of EU policies.”<br />
When Sweden was new as a member of the EU, no more<br />
than a handful of members worked actively with Union affairs.<br />
Today these issues have become a more natural part of the MPs’ everyday<br />
business. EU affairs are no longer a matter of foreign policy, they have become<br />
Swedish domestic policy.<br />
It usually takes longer for the EU to take decisions than it does for individual<br />
member states. When an issue is considered in the Union, it is important<br />
that Sweden becomes involved as early as possible.<br />
“In this way we have much greater chances of making our voice heard”,<br />
says Charlotte Rydell.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>’s 15 committees devote a lot of time to examining EU<br />
documents. When a committee has completed its examination, it presents<br />
a report on what the members think of the EU proposal. This is followed<br />
by a debate and decision in the Chamber on the committee’s examination.<br />
In addition to their examination of documents, the committees can hold<br />
deliberations on EU matters with ministers whenever they want. <strong>The</strong> deliberations<br />
take place in the committee, but it is in the Committee on EU<br />
Affairs that the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> gives the Government a negotiating mandate. In<br />
concrete terms, this means that a minister cannot travel to a ministerial<br />
meeting in Brussels without the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> having given the Government<br />
its support for the position the Government plans to pursue in<br />
the EU.<br />
Broad, integrated, timely and efficient. <strong>The</strong>se words are<br />
the guiding principles of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>’s work with EU affairs.<br />
Together, the first letter of these four words spell “BITE”. In<br />
principle this acronym stresses that the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> must never be<br />
toothless in relation to the EU.<br />
“Our EU efforts must show more bite”, says coordinator<br />
Charlotte Rydell with a laugh.<br />
IMPORTANT TO MEET RESEARCHERS AND<br />
PARLIAMENTARIANS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES<br />
We are bad at predicting problems before they occur. That was<br />
what members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> said in a survey a couple of years<br />
8 | T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8<br />
EU efforts must show bite. Charlotte<br />
Rydell wants the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> to be on the ball<br />
in the EU.<br />
“ <strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> must<br />
never be toothless.<br />
EU coordinator Charlotte Rydell on the <strong>Riks</strong><strong>dag</strong>’s<br />
relations with the EU.<br />
PHOTO : LUBBE GARELL
Electricity and cooling needs. In a conventional computer hall, more energy is required for cooling than actually running the computers.
ago. To address this, the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> organised, for the third<br />
year running, a Future Day where researchers and members<br />
of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> were able to meet to discuss important<br />
issues concerning the future. <strong>The</strong> three themes this<br />
year were climate change, IT and the aging population.<br />
During the opening panel debate on how best to communicate<br />
the climate threat, environmental researchers<br />
had the chance to submit a wishlist to the MPs. <strong>The</strong> re- re- re-<br />
searchers’ wishlist asked for:<br />
» Political courage to take long-term decisions;<br />
» More money for research;<br />
» More researchers as advisers to MPs;<br />
» A better transfer of knowledge between researchers<br />
and MPs.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>’s international commitments are increasing all the time. During<br />
2008 the Speaker Per Westerberg was actively involved in the international work<br />
of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>. A number of Speakers from other countries, including Croatia<br />
and Moldova, visited the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>. Per Westerberg led trips to Brazil, Egypt and<br />
India, and all delegations included members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>. Here at home, the<br />
Speaker welcomed several heads of state and ministers to the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are a number of parliamentary associations in which Swedish MPs are<br />
involved. In all these associations the Swedish MPs meet parliamentarians from<br />
other countries to discuss issues requiring international cooperation.<br />
<strong>The</strong> International Department of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> helps the Speaker and members<br />
of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> in their international commitments. In concrete terms, this involves<br />
planning, implementing and following up travel and visits. <strong>The</strong> Department<br />
has 20 members of staff.<br />
THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT<br />
AND COMMUNICATIONS IN CALIFORNIA<br />
During the year, a number of committees made study trips to other countries.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Committee on Transport and Communications travelled to California to<br />
study environmental and other issues connected with their area of responsibility.<br />
<strong>The</strong> members brought themselves up-to-date with California’s efforts to environmentally<br />
adapt its transport system and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Toge ther<br />
with the members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>, committee secretaries Mattias Revelius and<br />
Lena Sandström were the officials who planned and took part in the visit.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> trip was highly rewarding. All items on the programme felt meaningful.<br />
<strong>The</strong> MPs were active and interested and the mood in the delegation was very positive”,<br />
says Mattias, who arranged his first committee trip.<br />
Foreign travel often requires air travel. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> has therefore decided to<br />
offset its carbon footprint for these trips by setting aside a special pot in the budget<br />
for this purpose.<br />
10 | T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8<br />
“ <strong>The</strong><br />
MPs were<br />
active and interested<br />
and the mood in the<br />
delegation was very<br />
positive.<br />
Mattias Revelius, Secretary to the Committee<br />
on Transport and Communications<br />
on the study visit to California.
More space in the server hall. <strong>The</strong> number of servers was reduced from 206 to 173 in 2008, largely thanks to virtualisation technology designed to<br />
better distribute and make use of server power.
Our task: assisting the members and parties of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
TO BE ABLE TO FULFIL THEIR POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITIES,<br />
members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> require a whole range of practical services<br />
in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>. <strong>The</strong>se include everything from the cleaning<br />
of offices to well-functioning internal communications and computers<br />
that don’t play up.<br />
MPs and party secretariats can turn to the Research Service of the<br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> if they want a survey or study to be carried out on a specific<br />
topic. A member who is planning to write a motion about environmental<br />
taxes, for example, can request a study on the way in<br />
which other countries deal with environmental taxes. Furthermore,<br />
the Research Service can help to calculate how a proposed tax reduction<br />
or tax increase may affect the Swedish economy.<br />
During 2008, the Research Service carried out some 2,100 studies.<br />
This number is lower than in 2007. However, the trend indicates<br />
that the studies are generally becoming more complex. “Today,<br />
members want answers to a greater number of questions and<br />
very often they want a comparison with other countries, primarily<br />
with the EU 27”, says Charlotte Albrektsson, Senior Administrative<br />
Officer at the Research Service.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> Library is one of Sweden’s largest social science<br />
libraries. Its most important task is to ensure that members<br />
of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> have all the documentation they need<br />
to take decisions. <strong>The</strong> Library offers much more than just<br />
printed books. An abundance of electronic books and journals<br />
are also available. <strong>The</strong> Library has been cooperating<br />
closely with the Research Service for some time to ensure<br />
that staff at the Research Service receive all relevant material<br />
on the topics they are studying.<br />
In recent years, the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> has taken<br />
steps to develop its internal communications. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
intranet has been re-launched and is today an established information<br />
channel. <strong>The</strong> aim of the intranet is that everyone<br />
in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> should have easy access to factual, comprehensible<br />
and topical information of all kinds about what is<br />
going on in parliament.<br />
12 | T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8<br />
A sample of new books at<br />
the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> Library about<br />
the environment:<br />
Björklund, Johanna, Holmgren, Pär & Johansson,<br />
Susanne Mat & klimat [Food and<br />
climate]. Stockholm: Medström<br />
Azar, Christian Makten över klimatet [Control<br />
of the climate]. Stockholm: Bonnier<br />
Zedillo, Ernesto Global Warming: Looking<br />
Beyond Kyoto. Washington, D.C: Brookings<br />
Institution Press<br />
Abelin, Lars Naturreservat & nationalparker:<br />
pärlor i den svenska naturen [Nature<br />
reserves and national parks: Swedish gems].<br />
Stockholm: Designförlaget<br />
Kjellén, Bo A New Diplomacy for Sustainable<br />
Development: the Challenge of Global<br />
Change. London: Routledge
Fluorescent tubes for recycling. <strong>The</strong>re are separate containers for low-energy light bulbs, halogen light bulbs and fluorescent tubes. In total there are<br />
84 recycling stations in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>. We sort coloured glass, uncoloured glass, PET bottles and aluminium cans, batteries, metal packaging, low-energy lamps,<br />
household refuse and paper.
<strong>The</strong> political duties of a member involve travelling. <strong>The</strong><br />
majority of MPs travel to the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> in Stockholm on a<br />
weekly basis. All details of travel by MPs must be publicly<br />
available, which means that receipts and travel expense<br />
accounts must be saved. In 2008 the Department for Services<br />
for Members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> dealt with 8290 travel<br />
expense accounts. Most MPs register their travel expenses<br />
themselves in a computer system.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> is one of the few parliaments in the world<br />
to offer childcare services for the children of MPs. This is<br />
to make it easier to combine family life and politics.<br />
MEETINGS NEED TECHNOLOGY AND LEANING<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> is a place where people meet. This is why<br />
there are a number of meeting rooms for which the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong><br />
is responsible. In 2008, these rooms were updated with<br />
new technology and accessibility was improved. By the end of 2009<br />
the renovation of all committee assembly rooms will be completed.<br />
However, the renovation work must not spoil the original character<br />
of the rooms, and new technology should be designed so that it<br />
blends in with the environment.<br />
<strong>The</strong> cleaning services in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> employ<br />
35 people who keep the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> premises spick-and-span. In recent<br />
years the cleaning services have sought to reduce the amount<br />
of chemicals used. Head of cleaning services, Slavica Mladenovic,<br />
says that the <strong>Administration</strong> now has higher environmental standards<br />
when purchasing products and services. Daily cleaning activities<br />
have become more environmentally friendly.<br />
During the autumn of 2008, the new public entrance to the<br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> was opened. All visitors and groups now have to pass a security<br />
check to enter the building. This is similar to the checks carried<br />
out at airports, which means that visitors pass a metal detector<br />
and bags are x-rayed.<br />
14 | T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8<br />
“<strong>The</strong> intranet<br />
should be the natural<br />
place to go.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Secretary-General Anders Forsberg<br />
about where to find information.
Efficient systems. In 2008 energy consumption for heating was reduced by seven per cent, corresponding to 800,000 kilowatt hours. Greater<br />
awareness and improved knowledge at the Property Management Department have produced results.
Our task: informing citizens about the work<br />
of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
IT HAS TO BE EASY FOR CITIZENS to find out what’s happening<br />
in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> and what decisions are being taken. <strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> therefore has an important task in<br />
creating openness and accessibility in the work of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>.<br />
Everyone must be given the best opportunities to be an active<br />
member of society.<br />
Schools are an important target group for the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>. Every year some<br />
50,000 pupils make study visits to the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>. Some meet a member<br />
of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>, while others go on specially designed educational tours.<br />
What is it like being a member of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>? In the Democracy<br />
Workshop, secondary school pupils can take part in a role play that gives<br />
them a feel for the everyday work of our MPs. <strong>The</strong> game is based on a<br />
pe<strong>dag</strong>ogy of learning by experience, and each pupil has an active part to<br />
play. <strong>The</strong> pupils get to practise taking a stand on matters, cooperating<br />
and expressing opinions in front of one another. <strong>The</strong> available times in<br />
the Democracy Workshop were quickly filled in 2008.<br />
THE RIKS DAG SPONSORS EXPENSIVE TRIPS<br />
We want to give more upper secondary school classes<br />
for whom travel to Stockholm is expensive a chance to<br />
visit parliament. This is why the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> introduced<br />
a new travel allowance for schools in 2008. For classes<br />
whose applications are granted, the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> pays travel<br />
costs exceeding SEK 600 per pupil. <strong>The</strong> pot to be<br />
shared by Swedish schools in 2008 amounted to SEK<br />
1.5 million.<br />
<strong>The</strong> first class to receive a travel allowance came<br />
from the Gränsälv Upper Secondary School and they<br />
travelled over 1,000 kilometres to reach the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>.<br />
As pioneers, the pupils were offered a rather special<br />
visit with a welcome by the Speaker Per Westerberg in<br />
the Chamber.<br />
16 | T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8<br />
“ We really<br />
felt like members<br />
of parliament.<br />
Pupil at the Democracy Workshop<br />
who got to see what it was like<br />
to be a politician.
Double-sided printing. Producing new paper is a real energy guzzler. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> has adjusted its printers for double-sided printing to reduce paper<br />
consumption.
MUCH-VISITED WEBSITE ASPIRES TO NEW<br />
GOALS<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> website is the channel that reaches the<br />
most people. An evaluation conducted in 2008 revealed<br />
that many people find it difficult to find the information<br />
they are looking for. <strong>The</strong> aim of the website<br />
is that 90 per cent of all visitors should find the information<br />
or documents they are seeking. In order to<br />
fulfil this goal, the website is going to be restructured<br />
to make it more user-friendly. It’s easy to set the goal<br />
that everyone should be able to find information. But<br />
how does one actually achieve this? Web editor Magnus<br />
Korkala talks of the challenges facing the website:<br />
“<strong>The</strong> evaluation showed that our users find it difficult<br />
to navigate the website. People are used to Google<br />
and want our website to be just as easy. This is a challenge that we must<br />
take seriously. Many people also feel that they have to search back and<br />
forth on the website to find documents that connect together. We want<br />
to get better at doing this job for them.”<br />
Magnus Korkala reminds us that people perceive information in different<br />
ways. We have different ways of learning, quite simply.<br />
“We produce huge volumes of text in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>. Most of our information<br />
on the website is also written. But this doesn’t suit everybody. A<br />
lot of people feel excluded. We therefore want to test how we can open<br />
up the website to more people, using simple and instructive pictures,<br />
clickable animations and video clips.”<br />
FRUITFUL DISCUSSIONS AMONG TOMORROW’S<br />
POLITICIANS<br />
Apples or bananas? In November 2008 at the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>’s Open Day, tours<br />
for children were arranged for the first time ever. Like members of the<br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>, the children got the chance to take decisions. But not about<br />
the Signal Surveillance Act, the Lisbon Treaty or any stability plans, here<br />
children had the task of deciding what fruit should be served in schools<br />
every day. Apples won with a clear majority. But the children’s decision<br />
was not in line with the <strong>Administration</strong>’s view. Because the <strong>Administration</strong><br />
had decided that the 2,000 bags for the lucky dip should contain reflector<br />
tags, comics and bananas … If we listen to the voice of the children,<br />
maybe it will be apples next time!<br />
<strong>The</strong> Open Day at the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> attracted some 4,000 visitors who<br />
were able to acquaint themselves with the various parts of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
during a total of four hours. This was the ninth time the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> had<br />
18 | T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8<br />
“ People are used<br />
to Google and we<br />
want our website to<br />
be just as easy.<br />
Web editor Magnus Korkala on<br />
the future of the website.
“ PR is incredibly<br />
important with this<br />
kind of event.<br />
Information Officer Ingeborg Granlund about<br />
the importance of marketing in attracting<br />
people to the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> Open Day.<br />
opened its doors to the public in this way. A new feature<br />
in the history of Open Day was that younger citizens<br />
were especially targeted. Tours for children, lucky dips<br />
and a games corner were included on the programme for<br />
the first time. Information Officer Ingeborg Granlund<br />
speaks of the marketing of the Open Day.“If an event is<br />
attractive to children, it’s not only the families with children<br />
we attract but also their relatives – aunts, cousins<br />
and grandparents. We did a lot of work with marketing<br />
and PR in order to reach our target groups. For example,<br />
we advertised on the underground for the first time,<br />
and this got a good response. PR is incredibly important<br />
with this kind of event. <strong>The</strong> media coverage of our<br />
Open Day helped to spread the picture of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> as an open<br />
and accessible parliament to a broader public.”<br />
Children invaded the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>. During Open Day many children wanted to test the<br />
rostrum in the Chamber. A lot of adults also wanted to try it out.<br />
T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8 | 19
Our task: maintaining and preserving buildings<br />
and documents<br />
THE RIKS DAG BUILDINGS ARE TO BE MAINTAINED and documents<br />
saved for posterity. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> has the task of maintaining and<br />
renovating the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> buildings so that the activities of parliament can<br />
continue on Helgeandsholmen in Stockholm. It must be possible for<br />
people today and in one hundred years’ time to read all the thousands of<br />
documents that are produced every year.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> building on Helgeandsholmen is 104<br />
years old. A few years ago the Property Management<br />
Department decided that the façades needed restoration.<br />
In 2008 the renovation of the façade on the East<br />
Wing of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> continued and will be completed<br />
in 2009.<br />
During the year a major renovation of the windows<br />
has been carried out in some of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> buildings.<br />
<strong>The</strong> renovation cost SEK 1.7 million and has resulted<br />
in a better quality of indoor air. Furthermore,<br />
the rooms are less draughty now, which has meant that<br />
heating costs have been reduced.<br />
NEW VERSIONS OF OLD TAPES<br />
Tape recordings from the Chamber from 1966 to 1992<br />
have been digitised by the National Archive of Recorded Sound and<br />
Moving Images and are now available in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> Archives. Digitising<br />
these sound recordings is a way of preserving the contents for the future,<br />
as the plastic tapes were becoming too old to use.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> tapes contain important parts of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>’s history”, says<br />
Head of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> Archives Sara Tedebrand Frant.<br />
Before the digitisation she conducted a “preservation study”. In this<br />
she pointed out that the tapes contained things that the parliamentary<br />
record did not include, such as irony and emphasis on specific words. It’s<br />
mainly radio and TV companies that contact the Archives to ask for a<br />
specific recording.<br />
20 | T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8<br />
“ <strong>The</strong> tapes<br />
contain an important<br />
part of the<br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>’s history.<br />
Head of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> Archives<br />
Sara Tedebrand Frant on the<br />
importance of old sound recordings.
USE THE NET INSTEAD !<br />
Don’t let opening hours and distance from the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> limit you. If<br />
you’re looking for an old parliamentary document there’s no need to visit<br />
the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> Library in Stockholm in person. Instead you can find it<br />
quite easily on the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> website. Since the summer of 2008, all Government<br />
bills from 1971 to the present day have been available at www.<br />
riks <strong>dag</strong>en.se.<br />
A total of 750,000 pages have been scanned, which means that about<br />
half of the unicameral <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>’s documents are now available in the system.<br />
<strong>The</strong> parliamentary record will be entered during 2009. Digitisation<br />
makes it easier to access the documents, which in turn makes the work<br />
of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> more transparent. It is important that people have easy<br />
access to these documents as, for example, many proposals and laws are<br />
based on earlier preparatory materials and decisions.<br />
Older buildings need to be maintained. <strong>The</strong> façade of the East Wing of<br />
the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> on Helgeandsholmen was renovated in 2008. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> building<br />
was designed by the architect Aron Johansson and the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> moved in in<br />
1905.<br />
PHOTO : BJÖRN HOLM<br />
T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8 | 21
Our task: being a good employer<br />
APPROXIMATELY 660 PEOPLE are employed by the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong>.<br />
Many different occupations are represented here. <strong>The</strong>re are<br />
lawyers, carpenters, cleaners, librarians, administrative officers and a<br />
great many other occupational groups. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> aims to be a<br />
modern and attractive employer that applies laws and rules in the correct<br />
manner. Activities are funded by public funds, which means that we must<br />
be extra prudent with expenditure.<br />
A couple of years ago, the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> drew up a common set of basic values<br />
to characterise its activities. <strong>The</strong> basic values contain common ethical<br />
guidelines, and should always serve as a basis for the <strong>Administration</strong>’s<br />
own management documents. <strong>The</strong>y should also provide support when<br />
the formal rules are unclear or insufficient.<br />
Responsive, without prestige and open. <strong>The</strong>se are the guiding principles<br />
for how management in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> should be. This<br />
is set out in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>’s management policy. But guidelines are one<br />
thing – the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> is now investing greatly in management development<br />
programmes. All 60 managers at the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong><br />
have attended courses in the art of management.<br />
<strong>The</strong> new programme was prepared by the Human Resources<br />
Department, but the decision to implement it was taken by<br />
the leadership of the <strong>Administration</strong>. <strong>The</strong> programme started in<br />
2008, and will continue until the end of 2009.<br />
<strong>The</strong> actual development programme consists of two parts. <strong>The</strong><br />
first is about the manager’s role. It includes such issues as how a<br />
manager deals with his or her position in the organisation. <strong>The</strong><br />
programme also includes discussions about how managers relate<br />
to their responsibilities. <strong>The</strong> specific nature of being a manager<br />
in a politically controlled organisation has been given considerable<br />
scope.<br />
<strong>The</strong> second part of the programme is about the role of leader,<br />
and the focus is now on the manager as an individual. It is about<br />
becoming aware of how one is perceived as a manager. About<br />
practising what one preaches. And do colleagues have the same<br />
22 | T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong>’s<br />
basic values<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> is the foremost representative<br />
of the people. Working for the <strong>Riks</strong><strong>dag</strong><br />
<strong>Administration</strong> involves working in<br />
the service of democracy, and ultimately,<br />
of the people. Our task is to create the<br />
best possible conditions for the members<br />
of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> to carry out the tasks included<br />
in the position of trust given to<br />
them by the Swedish people.<br />
In contacts with members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>,<br />
the public and colleagues our activities<br />
should be characterised by:<br />
» Impartiality, objectivity and integrity<br />
» Openness, responsibility and a spirit of cooperation<br />
» Consideration and respect for all people’s<br />
equal value
“ We’re doing this<br />
to get better managers<br />
for our activities<br />
and our employees.<br />
Head of Human Resources Eva Brandorf<br />
Helsing who has sent all managers in the<br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> on a course.<br />
perception of the manager as he or she does? All managers<br />
at the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> will carry out a leadership analysis.<br />
This analysis is called a “360-degree assessment” and<br />
refers in a figurative sense to the circle of people that<br />
surround a manager in his or her everyday work.<br />
In concrete terms these people and the manager will<br />
answer a questionnaire. For colleagues, this involves<br />
assessing the manager and for the manager it involves<br />
scrutinising oneself. <strong>The</strong> manager will then be given<br />
feedback on the basis of the results and will have the<br />
opportunity to draw up a plan for the continued development<br />
of his or her management.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> has worked with continuing professional<br />
development for all employees for many years.<br />
However the <strong>Administration</strong> has never before taken such major or<br />
long-term measures for management, says Head of Human Resources<br />
Eva Brandorf Helsing.<br />
Fitness activities in the open air. Once a year the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> organ- organises<br />
a much-appreciated recreation day for members and employees of<br />
the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>.<br />
PHOTO : CATHERINE SVEDELID
Our task: making the <strong>Administration</strong> greener<br />
ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> has<br />
prepared four objectives for a greener <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong> objectives concern paper consumption, heating, transport and<br />
electricity. <strong>The</strong> objectives are to be achieved by 2011.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> is in the process of introducing an environmental<br />
management system. But what exactly is an environmental<br />
management system? Anne Rymer-Rythén, Project Manager<br />
for the system, says that it’s about establishing routines for one’s<br />
environmental work. Measurable goals will be set and work with<br />
environmental issues will be systematic.<br />
According to Anne Rymer-Rythén, it is important to always<br />
consider the impact on the environment of a specific project or activity.<br />
<strong>The</strong> finale for the introduction of the environmental management<br />
system will be when the <strong>Administration</strong> becomes ISO certified,<br />
hopefully early in the summer of 2009.<br />
<strong>The</strong> positive effects of these efforts could already be seen in 2008.<br />
One is that energy consumption for heating dropped by 7 per cent<br />
and electricity consumption by 4.5 per cent. By 2011, energy consumption<br />
for heating should have been reduced by 10 per cent, and<br />
electricity consumption by 10 per cent too.<br />
“I get the feeling that our staff have become more aware since<br />
we introduced the environmental management programme. This<br />
can be seen, for example, in connection with purchases and<br />
procurement and in our daily work, for example, recycling<br />
of rubbish and how we use our resources in the form of<br />
electricity and paper.”<br />
TRANSPORT A BIG BURDEN ON<br />
THE ENVIRONMENT<br />
One of the objectives of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>’s environmental activities<br />
is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions caused by<br />
transport by 10 per cent by 2011. One step towards this objective<br />
is that taxis and rental cars should if possible always<br />
be environmental cars.<br />
Petra Robin is responsible for the administration of travel<br />
by members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>.<br />
24 | T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8<br />
Environmental objectives<br />
by 2011<br />
» Paper consumption<br />
We must reduce our paper consumption<br />
by ten per cent.<br />
» Transport<br />
Carbon dioxide emissions as a result of<br />
travel by staff in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong><br />
must be reduced by ten per cent.<br />
» Energy consumption<br />
We must reduce energy consumption<br />
in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> buildings by ten per cent.<br />
<strong>The</strong> proportion of renewable energy<br />
must be at least 80 per cent.
Lake source cooling. <strong>The</strong> intake to the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>’s new cooling equipment is visible just below the Members’ Building. It cools both the<br />
Chamber and the IT Department’s server halls.
“Our impression is that more people are choosing to<br />
go by train, rather than by air”, she says.<br />
All public procurement by the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong><br />
systematically involves environmental requirements.<br />
In 2008, 129 procurements were recorded in the <strong>Riks</strong><strong>dag</strong><br />
<strong>Administration</strong>’s register.<br />
Since last autumn the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> Restaurant serves an<br />
eco-friendly dish every day. <strong>The</strong> dish contains organic,<br />
eco-friendly products.<br />
One of several measures that has been taken to reduce<br />
paper consumption in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> is that the preliminary<br />
record from the Chamber is no longer distributed<br />
to all MPs. Circulation in the Chamber has been reduced<br />
from 510 to 260 copies and the number of printed pages has been<br />
reduced by 1.3 million in one year. <strong>The</strong> principle of not distributing<br />
everything to everyone has also started to be applied in the case of certain<br />
newspapers and internal communications. Since the spring of 2008,<br />
printers in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> have been automatically set for<br />
two-sided printing.<br />
To cut energy consumption, the <strong>Administration</strong> uses cooling equipment<br />
to make use of water from Lake Mälaren around the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>. <strong>The</strong><br />
system cools technical equipment, computer halls and parts of the <strong>Riks</strong><strong>dag</strong><br />
buildings.<br />
ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITORS<br />
Nine environmental auditors have been appointed from<br />
among the employees in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>. <strong>The</strong> auditors work for<br />
the Secretary-General of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> and their task is to improve<br />
the environmental management system and create a<br />
better understanding of it. In addition to a course in inter- inter-<br />
nal environmental auditing, the auditors have conducted interviews<br />
with officials to identify the <strong>Administration</strong>’s strong<br />
and weak points as regards measures to improve environmental<br />
performance.<br />
“For an environmental management system to be successful,<br />
it must have the full support of the management”, emphasises<br />
Anne Rymer-Rythén. “Otherwise this work will<br />
not receive the attention it deserves in the organisation.” <strong>The</strong><br />
Project Manager for the environmental management system<br />
is satisfied with the measures that are being taken for a greener<br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>.<br />
“I am counting one hundred per cent on us becoming ISO<br />
certified in June 2009”, she says.<br />
26 | T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8<br />
“<strong>The</strong> decision has<br />
to come from top<br />
management.<br />
Project Manager Anne Rymer-Rythén on<br />
how to succeed with an environmental<br />
management system.<br />
Green proposals from<br />
members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>...<br />
Here are a few of the proposals from MPs on<br />
ways to make the <strong>Administration</strong> greener:<br />
1. Solar cells on the roofs of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
2. Distance-voting in the Chamber<br />
3. Purchase a Government train<br />
4. Use hydropower from the water surrounding<br />
the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
… and here is a selection of<br />
proposals from employees:<br />
1. Biogas in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>’s cars<br />
2. More video conferences<br />
3. Plants on the roofs of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> buildings<br />
4. Encourage people to take the stairs instead of<br />
the lift
Electric waste. <strong>The</strong> cables are fragmented and the insulating material is separated from the metal. As much as possible from the cables is<br />
recycled.
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> in figures<br />
SOME SAMPLE FIGURES from the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong>’s Annual<br />
Report for 2008. <strong>The</strong> activities of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> are mainly<br />
funded by way of two appropriations under expenditure area 1 (<strong>The</strong> Governance<br />
of the Realm) of the central government budget:<br />
» Appropriation 90:2 Parties and members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>, etc.<br />
» Appropriation 90:3 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>’s administrative costs<br />
Financial support to the political parties is also paid - Appropriation 90:6 Support<br />
to the political parties.<br />
Below follows a summary of appropriation expenditure for each appropriation.<br />
This is followed by a presentation of revenues, expenditure and<br />
transfers. An overview of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong>’s assets and liabilities<br />
at year-end is also given, as well as a presentation of some other financial<br />
data.<br />
PARTIES AND MEMBERS OF THE RIKS DAG, ETC.<br />
This appropriation is used to fund members’ pay, IT and telecommunications,<br />
the pay of the Swedish members of the European Parliament<br />
(MEPs) and pensions and guaranteed income payments to former members<br />
of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> and MEPs. Participation by members in international<br />
parliamentary cooperation and travel in the EU are funded by this appropriation,<br />
as are grants for individual study trips.<br />
Furthermore, support to the party groups in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> and grants to<br />
inter-parliamentary cooperation are funded by this appropriation.<br />
Appropriation expenditure for 2008 SEK 762 million<br />
THE RIKS DAG’S ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS<br />
This appropriation is used to fund the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong>’s personnel,<br />
premises, security, computer technology and IT support, internal<br />
services, administration, publishing and printing, library and information<br />
activities. Furthermore, grants to associations in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> are funded<br />
by this appropriation. <strong>The</strong> appropriation also covers property administration,<br />
maintenance, repairs, renovations, reconstruction and upkeep of the<br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> buildings as well as interest and repayments.<br />
Appropriation expenditure for 2008 SEK 588 million<br />
28 | T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8<br />
1,800<br />
1,600<br />
1,400<br />
1,200<br />
1,000<br />
800<br />
600<br />
400<br />
200<br />
(SEK)<br />
million<br />
0<br />
2008 2007 2006 2005 2004<br />
Appropriation expenditure for 2008<br />
Support to the political parties<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>’s Administrative costs<br />
Parties and members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>, etc.
REVENUES FOR 2008<br />
Revenues for 2008 amount to SEK 1,136 million. For the most part,<br />
these comprise funds from the above-mentioned appropriations, SEK<br />
1,092 million.Other revenues consist of rent income on properties owned<br />
by the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong>, SEK 19 million, and revenues from the<br />
sale of parliamentary documents, SEK 8 million.<br />
EXPENDITURE FOR 2008<br />
Expenditure for 2008 amounts to SEK 1,526 million, of which the largest<br />
part, SEK 1,138 million, has gone to members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> and<br />
personnel.<br />
Other costs include expenditure for premises, SEK 16 million, deductions,<br />
depreciation and financial costs, SEK 94 million and miscellaneous<br />
operating costs, SEK 278 million.<br />
SUPPORT TO THE POLITICAL PARTIES<br />
According to the Act on state support to political parties, financial support<br />
is paid partly in the form of support to the parties and partly in the<br />
form of support to the party secretariats. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong><br />
manages the appropriation for Support to the political parties and is responsible<br />
for paying out funds to the national organisations of the political<br />
parties.<br />
Appropriation expenditure for 2008 SEK 172 million<br />
TRANSFERS FOR 2008<br />
Transfers for the year amount to SEK 431 million and consist for the<br />
most part of support to the political parties, SEK 172 million and support<br />
to the parliamentary party groups, SEK 244 million. In addition, SEK 15<br />
million was paid out in contributions to bodies like the Nordic Council,<br />
the Inter-Parliamentary Union and OSCE (the Organization for Security<br />
and Cooperation in Europe).<br />
T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8 | 29
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT YEAR-END<br />
(SEK million)<br />
Intangible fixed assets 1<br />
Tangible assets 1,193<br />
Financial assets 2<br />
Receivables 20<br />
Accruals and deferrals 25<br />
Settlement of accounts with<br />
the State – 127<br />
Cash and bank balances 185<br />
Total assets 1,299<br />
EXPLANATION OF SOME OF THE ASSET<br />
AND LIABILITY ITEMS<br />
Intangible fixed assets<br />
This item shows the accounted value of in-house developed software.<br />
Tangible assets<br />
This item mainly consists of the accounted value of buildings and<br />
land, SEK 1,065 million, and of machines, movables and installations,<br />
SEK 110 million.<br />
Financial assets<br />
This item comprises shares in tenant-owned housing associations<br />
with an estimated market value of around SEK 50 million.<br />
Cash and bank balances<br />
This item mainly comprises the balance of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong>’s<br />
interest-bearing account with the National Debt Office.<br />
Agency capital<br />
<strong>The</strong> agency capital consists of four parts: state capital, comprising<br />
art, land and the main buildings on Helgeandsholmen funded by appropriations,<br />
donation capital, consisting of Villa Bonnier with art<br />
items, capital change for the year, and capital change brought forward<br />
from the previous year.<br />
Allocations to reserves<br />
This item shows allocations for pensions of members of the <strong>Riks</strong><strong>dag</strong><br />
and MEPs, life annuity and supplementary pensions for surviving<br />
spouses, as well as income guarantee payments for members of the<br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>. It also shows allocations for contracted pensions for employees<br />
with a partial pension. Pensions to other staff in the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
<strong>Administration</strong> are paid out by the National Government Employee<br />
Pensions Board (SPV). <strong>The</strong>se pensions, like those of other central<br />
government authorities, are reported in the SPV’s balance sheet.<br />
30 | T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8<br />
Agency capital – 1,202<br />
Allocations to reserves 2,185<br />
Total liabilities etc. 270<br />
Accruals and deferrals 46<br />
Total equity<br />
and liabilities<br />
1,299<br />
Securities pledged none<br />
Other contingent liabilities none<br />
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA<br />
(SEK million)<br />
BORROWING FRAME<br />
Authorised borrowing frame with the<br />
National Debt Office. 300<br />
Utilised borrowing frame during the year 150<br />
OVERDRAFT FACILITY<br />
Overdraft facility at the National Debt Office 141<br />
Maximum utilised during the year 0<br />
APPROPRIATION CREDIT<br />
Approved appropriation credit 63<br />
Utilised appropriation credit during<br />
the year 0<br />
APPROPRIATION SAVINGS<br />
Parties and members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>, etc. 41<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>’s administrative costs 87<br />
Support to the political parties 3<br />
Revenues from charges 40<br />
AUTHORISATIONS<br />
Allocated framework 170<br />
Outstanding commitments 124<br />
Operational cost per year/employee 0.9
Organisation and personnel<br />
IN 2008 the <strong>Administration</strong> Office changed name to the Administrative Division.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Office of Information and Knowledge Management also changed name and is<br />
now called the Communications Division. In total there were 661 employees at the<br />
end of the year, 376 women and 285 men.<br />
Administrative<br />
Division<br />
and Secretariat<br />
Finance Department<br />
Department for Services for<br />
Members<br />
Legal Services Department<br />
Human Resources Department<br />
Security Department<br />
Property Management<br />
Department<br />
Internal Services Department<br />
IT Department<br />
Controller<br />
International<br />
Department<br />
Secretariat<br />
of the Chamber<br />
275 89<br />
1<br />
Central Bureau<br />
Department for the<br />
Parliamentary Record<br />
Research Service of the<br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
Board<br />
Secretary-General<br />
of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
22 4<br />
1<br />
Management<br />
Secretariat<br />
Secretariats of parliamentary<br />
committees and<br />
Committee on EU Affairs<br />
Committee on the Labour Market (AU)<br />
Committee on Civil Affairs (CU)<br />
Committee on Finance (FiU)<br />
Committee on Defence (FöU)<br />
Committee on Justice (JuU)<br />
Committee on the Constitution (KU)<br />
Committee on Cultural Affairs (KrU)<br />
Committee on Environment and<br />
Agriculture (MJU)<br />
Committee on Industry and Trade (NU)<br />
Committee on Taxation (SkU)<br />
Committee on Social Insurance (SfU)<br />
Committee on Health and Welfare (SoU)<br />
Committee on Transport and<br />
Communications (TU)<br />
Committee on Education (UbU)<br />
Committee on Foreign Affairs (UU)<br />
Committee on EU Affairs (EUN)<br />
Speaker’s<br />
Office<br />
7<br />
Communications<br />
Division<br />
125 137<br />
Department for Parliamentary<br />
Documents<br />
EU Information Centre<br />
Information Department<br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> Library<br />
Journal From the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
and the Ministries<br />
T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8 | 31
Contacting the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
WWW.RIKS DAGEN.SE<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> website contains comprehensive information<br />
about the activities of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>, current business, members<br />
of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> etc.<br />
E-mail: riks <strong>dag</strong>sinformation@riks <strong>dag</strong>en.se<br />
THE RIKS DAG TELEPHONE ENQUIRY SERVICE<br />
Via the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> Telephone Enquiry Service callers can obtain<br />
answers to questions about the activities and decisions of the<br />
<strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>, votes, constitutional issues etc.<br />
Telephone: 020-349 000 (national calls, Mon-Thurs, 9<br />
a.m.–12 noon, 1– 4.30 p.m., Fri 9 a.m.–12 noon, 1–4 p.m.)<br />
E-mail: riks <strong>dag</strong>sinformation@riks <strong>dag</strong>en.se<br />
RIKS DAGEN DIREKT<br />
This telephone voice answer-back service enables callers to<br />
listen directly to debates in the Chamber, public committee<br />
hearings and press conferences.<br />
Telephone: 020-349 900 (national calls)<br />
THE PUBLIC GALLERY<br />
<strong>The</strong> Public Gallery of the Chamber is open to the public<br />
during meetings of the Chamber. Free admission.<br />
Entrance: <strong>Riks</strong>gatan 3A, public entrance<br />
STUDY VISITS<br />
School classes and other groups must book their visits in<br />
advance.<br />
Telephone: +46-8-786 48 62 (Mon–Thurs 9–11a.m.)<br />
Universities, university colleges, public authorities and<br />
organisations can book specially adapted study visits.<br />
Telephone: +46-8-786 59 31 (office hours)<br />
E-mail: riks <strong>dag</strong>sinformation@riks <strong>dag</strong>en.se<br />
GUIDED TOURS FOR THE PUBLIC<br />
Between September and mid-June tours of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> are<br />
held for the public on Saturdays and Sundays at 12 noon and<br />
1.30 p.m. and during the summer on weekdays at 11 a.m. and<br />
12.30, 2 and and 3.30 p.m. Tours to view the works of art in<br />
the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> are held on Mondays at 6 p.m. during the working<br />
year. All tours are free of charge.<br />
Entrance: <strong>Riks</strong>gatan 3A, public entrance<br />
THE INFORMATION CENTRE<br />
<strong>The</strong> Information Centre of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> is open to the public.<br />
Visitors can obtain information, search in databases, purchase<br />
parliamentary documents, follow debates in the Chamber on<br />
a wide-screen TV, meet members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> etc. Mon-<br />
Thurs 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Fri 10 a.m.–3 p.m.<br />
Entrance: Storkyrkobrinken 7A<br />
Telephone: +46-8-786 54 63<br />
E-mail: riks <strong>dag</strong>sinformation@riks <strong>dag</strong>en.se<br />
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THE RIKS DAG LIBRARY<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> Library has one of Sweden’s largest collections of<br />
social science literature. It is open to the public on Mon, Wed,<br />
Thurs 12–5 p.m. Tues 12–7 p.m., Fri kl. 12–3 p.m.<br />
Entrance: Storkyrkobrinken 7A<br />
Telephone: 020-555 000 (national calls), +46-8-786 40 00<br />
E-mail: biblioteket@riks <strong>dag</strong>en.se<br />
THE EU INFORMATION CENTRE<br />
<strong>The</strong> EU Information Centre is entrusted by the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> to<br />
provide the public with politically impartial, objective and<br />
all-round information about the European Union and Swedish<br />
membership of the EU.<br />
Website: www.eu-upplysningen.se<br />
Telephone: 020-250 000 (national calls, Mon–Fri. 9–11 a.m.,<br />
2–4 p.m.)<br />
E-mail: eu-upplysningen@riks <strong>dag</strong>en.se<br />
RIKS DAG & DEPARTEMENT (NEWS FROM<br />
THE RIKS DAG AND THE MINISTRIES)<br />
This journal is issued 38 times a year and contains journalistic<br />
articles about proposals and decisions from the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong>, the<br />
Government and the EU. <strong>The</strong> journal is also available as a talking<br />
book.<br />
Website: www.rod.nu<br />
Telephone: +46-8-786 40 00<br />
PARLIAMENTARY DOCUMENTS<br />
Government bills, private members’ motions, committee<br />
reports, parliamentary records etc. can be found on the <strong>Riks</strong><strong>dag</strong><br />
website. <strong>The</strong>y can also be purchased at the Information<br />
Centre of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> or ordered from <strong>The</strong> Department for<br />
Parliamentary Documents, 100 12 Stockholm, Sweden<br />
Website: www.riks <strong>dag</strong>en.se<br />
Telephone: +46-8-786 58 10 Fax: +46-8-786 61 76<br />
E-mail: ordermottagningen@riks <strong>dag</strong>en.se<br />
INFORMATION AND STUDY MATERIALS<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> provides information about its activities and decisions<br />
in books, brochures, fact sheets etc. Some of this material<br />
is available in other languages, including English and French,<br />
as well as in Easy Swedish and sign language. Some material is<br />
also available in other formats, including talking book, dvd etc.<br />
Publications also include special materials for schools. All materials<br />
may be ordered from the Department for Parliamentary<br />
Documents, 100 12 Stockholm, Sweden<br />
Website: www.riks <strong>dag</strong>en.se<br />
Telephone: +46-8-786 58 10 Fax: +46-8-786 61 76<br />
E-mail: ordermottagningen@riks <strong>dag</strong>en.se
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> buildings<br />
Besides the main buildings on the islet of Helgeandsholmen, the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
includes a number of buildings in the immediate neighbourhood. Most of the<br />
buildings are connected by an underground passageway. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong><br />
rents out a total of 10,750 square metres of premises to various<br />
tenants. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> <strong>Administration</strong> also rents certain premises itself, 3,226<br />
square metres for offices and 3,053 square metres for storerooms.<br />
DROTTNINGGATAN<br />
Rosenbad<br />
STRÖMGATAN<br />
Gustav Adolfs torg<br />
Foreign Ministry<br />
RV<br />
Riddarhus-<br />
torget<br />
Gallerian<br />
JAKOBSGATAN<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Riks</strong><strong>dag</strong><br />
C<br />
M<br />
RIKSGATAN<br />
L<br />
REGERINGSGATAN<br />
RÖ<br />
B<br />
STORKYRKOBRINKEN<br />
VÄSTERLÅNGGATAN<br />
N<br />
J<br />
Mynttorget<br />
NORRBRO<br />
Jakobs kyrka<br />
Royal Opera<br />
SLOTTSKAJEN<br />
Royal Palace<br />
RÖ – <strong>The</strong> East Wing of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
<strong>Riks</strong>gatan 2<br />
RV – <strong>The</strong> West Wing of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong><br />
Main Entrance, <strong>Riks</strong>gatan 1<br />
Public Entrance, <strong>Riks</strong>gatan 3A<br />
L – <strong>The</strong> Members’ Building<br />
(in the “Mars” and “Vulkanus” blocks)<br />
Mynttorget 2<br />
C – <strong>The</strong> “Cephalus” block<br />
Riddarhustorget 7–9<br />
B – Brandkontoret<br />
(“<strong>The</strong> Fire Office”)<br />
(in the “Aglarus” block)<br />
Mynttorget 4<br />
N – <strong>The</strong> “Neptunus” block<br />
Mynttorget 1<br />
M – <strong>The</strong> “Mercurius” block<br />
Storkyrkobrinken 7 and 13<br />
J – Jakobsgatan<br />
Jakobsgatan 6, floor 3<br />
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T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8 | 35
Half as many printed copies. Circulation in the Chamber of the preliminary record to members of the <strong>Riks</strong> <strong>dag</strong> has been reduced from 510 to 260<br />
copies. Many members have chosen not to receive the preliminary record in printed form.