The right Party”s program in Norway

8/14/2019 The right Partys program in Norway

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THE CONSERVATIVE PARTYS

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION MANIFESTO

20132017


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THE CONSERVATIVE PARTYS

MISSION STATEMENT

The Conservative Party will pursue a conservative

progressive policy based on Christian cultural values,

constitutional government and democracy to

promote personal freedom and social responsibility,

co-determination and ownership rights, and a

binding commitment to national and international

cooperation.

(Adopted at the National Convention in Stavanger in 1971)


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1. New ideas and better solutions p. 5

2. Education and culture p. 9

3. Health p. 23

4. Transport and communications p. 35

5. Economy and industry p. 43

6. Environment and energy p. 57

7. Local self-government and public services p. 65

8. Justice and public security p. 73

9. Family, work and social aspects p. 83

10. Diversity and inclusion p. 93

11. Foreign policy and defence p. 99

CONTENTS:


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CHAPTER 1:

NEW IDEA S AND BET TER

SOLUTIONS

Norway is a good country to live in, and few countries have better opportunities than we do to

invest in the future and safeguard welfare, growth and secure jobs.

The Conservative Partys policies are based on respect for the generations that have gonebefore us and a sense of responsibility for those who will follow after us. Even though this

manifesto applies to the coming Storting election period, we are calling for enactment of

holistic, responsible and long-term policies that are also sustainable over time.

Opportunities for all

The ideal behind the Conservative Partys policies is a society with opportunities for all.

The Nordic countries are characterized by an open market economy, cooperation, equality

and a high level of trust between their citizens. Narrowness of social divisions is a Nordic value,

which is associated with our culture and traditions.

If we are to succeed in maintaining the values inherent in the Nordic model, we will need

educational and welfare policies that enable as many as possible to participate actively in social

and working life.

At the same time, we must set boundaries for politics and accentuate personal responsibility.

Individuals and families must gain more freedom to decide over their own lives. We need a

strong and independent civil society. The state should not be all things to all people, but moreto those who need it most.

New ideas

The Conservative Party bases this manifesto on four fundamental ideas. These ideas pave

the way for better solutions solutions that can bring Norway forward and provide more

opportunities for participation to all.

Diversity is a positive force for change.

Knowledge is a precondition for solvingthe challenges we are facing.

Creating value is valuable in itself.

Dispersion of power makes societystronger.


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6 NEW IDEAS AND BETTER SOLUTIONS

BETTER SOLUTIONS TO

THE MAJOR CHALLENGES

Vitality

Vitality concerns the things that connect us as people. The family, the school, the sports club,

the congregation, the workplace and innumerable other communities form the fabric of

relationships that interconnect people.

With a more diverse population and a rapidly growing state, we are facing new challenges.

These challenges cannot be met with old solutions.

The Conservative Party has solutions for:

A vibrant and real local democracy, where

power is transferred from the state to

robust municipalities.

A strong and independent civil society

to ensure freedom, equality, diversity and

balance of power.

Ensuring that individuals and organizations

can practice their faith and belief systems

without state interference.


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NEW IDEAS AND BETTER SOLUTIONS 7

Sustainability

A sustainable society is a society that safeguards its fundamental social values, its welfareand the environment. The Norwegian welfare model must be reinforced with the aid of new

solutions to preserve its long-term sustainability.

The Conservative Party wants to safeguard our societys sustainability through greater diversity,

renewal and commitment to environmental and climate policy.


Innovation and freedom of choice in

publicly funded welfare through a diverserange of public and private options.

Reducing the proportion of citizens who

are partly or fully excluded from working

life, and providing a new chance for those

who have met with misfortune.

Taking care of Norways natural

environment and biological diversity. Ensuring that Norway will be a champion

for new international climate agreements

and help achieve technological and be-

havioural change that reduces climate-gas

emissions in Norway and internationally.

Competitiveness

Norway has a high rate of employment and a business community that occupies a strong

international position in many areas. We risk, however, becoming disproportionately dependent

on oil revenues and oil-related business. In addition to further development of the oil industry,

we need to have a more diversified industrial basis in the future.

Appropriate and stable frameworks for business and a school system in which knowledge takes

pride of place are key preconditions for increased innovation and creation of new workplaces.

A good school system is also the most important instrument to achieve social equality in

a society that sets high requirements for individual skills and competences to enable full

participation and opportunities to forge a future career.


Shifting the use of oil revenues from

public consumption to growth-inducing

investments, for example in research,

education and transport.

Reducing the level of taxes and duties

and simplifying the regulations and

reporting requirements that public

authorities impose on businesses.

Turning the teaching profession into ahigh-status occupation that motivates

the best students to choose teacher

training after upper secondary school.


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CHAPTER 2:

EDUCATION

AND CULTURE

CONTENTS:

2.1 Kindergartens p. 10

2.2 School p. 11

2.3 The teacher p. 13

2.4 Vocational education and training p. 14

2.5 Higher education p. 15

2.6 Research p. 16

2.7 Art and culture p. 17

2.8 Sports and volunteering p. 18

2.9 Norwegian cultural heritage and language p. 19

2.10 The media p. 20


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10 EDUCATION AND CULTURE

2.1 Kindergartens

Kindergartens should provide children with safe and proper care and simultaneously encourageplay and development on the childrens own terms.

The expansion of kindergartens has been rapid and has lacked necessary emphasis on the

content. The staff are the most important resource in kindergarten: good quality in the

kindergarten depends on those who work there.

A large majority of different kindergartens ensure a service that is adapted to the individual

child and the individual family. Because language is the basis for childrens development,

the Conservative Party wants to strengthen the Norwegian language environment in the

kindergarten.

The Conservative Partys solutions:

Strengthen the quality of the

kindergartens by securing the pupil-

teacher ratio, training more teachers

and reinforcing continuing and further

education for the employees.

Introduce a quality portal whereinformation gathered by the municipalities

from individual kindergartens is made

available to parents.

Introduce an independent supervisory

authority for kindergartens.

Ensure that the municipalities facilitate

continuous intake.

Make Norwegian language skills arequirement for kindergarten staff.

Provide necessary help to children with

poor language skills, and make provisions

for all children to master Norwegian before

they start school.

Legislate for and ensure genuine equality

of treatment for public and privatekindergartens, and introduce municipal

fixed-price financing.

Give all kindergartens that fulfil the

requirements for accreditation by the

municipality the opportunity to become

established.

Means-test the parental contribution for

low-income families.


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EDUCATION AND CULTURE 11

2.2 School

A good school provides students with knowledge and aids social mobility. Norway has aconsistently highly educated population and spends a great deal of money on education for all.

Most students experience a good learning environment, and Norwegian schools have all the

preconditions to be among the best in the world.

The main challenge in Norwegian schools is that too many students have too few skills after ten

years of schooling. This applies particularly to the basic skills such as reading and arithmetic. This

results in too many students failing to complete upper secondary school or pass the school-

leaving exam. Upper secondary teaching should give society a skilled workforce and provide a

platform for further education and participation in working life. This is of great importance both

for the individual and for society. The Norwegian education system must become more flexible

in order to lay the foundation for lifelong learning.

Norwegian schools must become better at providing feedback to students. Homework must be

followed up, and students must know what is expected of them. The differences are far too great

between and within municipalities and within individual schools with regard to learning outcomes.

For many students, having a good teacher is absolutely crucial for whether they succeed or not.

In Norway by far the majority of students attend state schools. The goal of the Conservative

Party is to ensure that state schools are good enough to create opportunities for all. The

Conservative Party also wants good and equivalent alternatives to state schools for students

and parents who would like other options.


Prioritize students reading and arithmetic

skills throughout their schooling early

efforts are the key to mastery and a better

learning outcome.

Map learning outcomes throughout

school education and ensure full

transparency at school level with respect

to results.

Ensure that the municipalities make use

of development agreements with school

heads local politicians must arrange

close and targeted follow-up of their

schools.

Facilitate parents choice of primary and

lower secondary schools for their children,

including across municipal borders.

Provide all students and parents with

written reports in core subjects from the

first year of schooling.

Introduce grading from the fifth year of

schooling.

Introduce learning objectives for all year

levels students, teachers and parents

must know what students are expected to

have learned in each academic year.

Introduce a written school-leaving

examination in Norwegian, mathematics

and English for all students in Year Ten.

Introduce compulsory intensive courses

for students who lag behind after moving

to lower secondary and upper secondary

school.


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Evaluate the new elective course scheme.

Permit differentiated instruction when

there are educational grounds for this,

but students should not be permanentlystreamed according to academic level.

Give all students the opportunity to take

subjects at a higher level when they are

qualified to do so gifted students must

also be given an opportunity to develop.

Ensure all students a good learning

environment by working continuously to

prevent and combat bullying. Strengthen the school health service so that

it is available for students who need help.

Require advisors to have regular continuing

education to continue in their profession.

Make provisions for schools to ensure

regular daily physical activity for students.

Provide students who have problems with

reading and writing with access to freecomputers through the school as a part of

facilitating their learning.

Simplify and reduce the amount of

unnecessary bureaucracy and reporting

requirements.

Establish a shared IT platform for the school

for easier access to digital learning resources,

more efficient operation, and information-sharing in and about the school.

Ensure access to establish and run publicly

financed private and religious schools

as an alternative to state schools, and

implement an Independent Schools Act

where the goals requirement is replaced

by a requirement for content and quality.

Schools which meet the conditions

shall have the right to accreditation

unless, following a full assessment, such

accreditation has significant negative

consequences for the state- school

provision for students. Private and religious

schools shall not be permitted to pay a

dividend to their owners. Use texts in both Norwegian Bokml and

Norwegian Nynorsk for Norwegian studies

throughout the school career. Discontinue

the scheme of separate grading and

examinations in Norwegian Nynorsk in

lower and upper secondary school.

Reinstate a maximum limit for

unauthorized absence from upper

secondary school.

Give students at upper secondary school

the right to free choice of school, also

across county boundaries.

Facilitate internationally quality-assured

educational programmes such as the IB

in primary, lower secondary and upper

secondary school.

Introduce a national objective that

90 per cent of students will complete

upper secondary education and pass the

examination.

Allow students in lower and upper

secondary school to evaluate the teaching.

Conduct trials of anonymous correcting of

students work.

Encourage closer cooperation between

schools, business enterprises and research

environments, and develop schools

specializing in particular subjects at lower

secondary level and in upper secondary

school, for example colleges of natural

science, in collaboration with higher

education institutions.

Establish a Technological School bagpatterned on the Cultural School bag

(Den kulturelle skolesekken).


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Strengthen Ungt Entreprenrskap (Young

Entrepreneurship) as an important arena

for cooperation between school and the

workplace. Grant a lifelong right to upper secondary

education by abolishing the current age

limit.

Permit re-sitting of examinations in upper

secondary school during the summer.

Move the written examination to precede

the school-leaving russ celebration.

Ensure a wide folk high school programme.

2.3 The teacher

Good leadership is essential for students to learn. The teacher is in charge of the classroom and

responsible for the students learning, and the school head is responsible for the schools results.

The Conservative Party will raise the general status and reputation of teachers in society. The

teacher is a knowledge worker, and the quality of teaching is dependent on the motivation and

professional competence of the teaching staff.

Teaching is the core activity of the school. However, nowadays career opportunities often involve

teachers leaving the classroom. The Conservative Party wants the best teachers to continue

to teach, and for it to be possible to advance through the grades as a teacher and become a

specialist with increased prestige, salary and status. Since it is of national importance to ensure the

best possible teachers and to raise the status of the teaching profession, the Conservative Party

believes that the state should help to finance new career paths. The most important innovation in

the schools system must be driven forward by a strong teaching profession.


Make grade 4 or above in Norwegian,

mathematics and English a requirement

to be accepted for teacher training, andrequire that from Year One all teachers

must have a specialization in the core

subjects that they teach.

Make teacher training a five-year Masters

degree-level education.

Develop a scheme for teacher certification

that is tied to the right and duty of

continuing and further educationthroughout the career pathway.

Retain and recruit the best teachers through

higher salaries, flexible working hours,

mentoring schemes and support functions.

Establish new career paths in schools by

introducing new job categories such as

teaching specialists, for example head

teacher and associate professor, in lower

and upper secondary schools respectively.

There must be predictable, objective and

agreed criteria for promotion, formulated

in cooperation with the teachers

organizations and municipalities. The state

shall contribute to funding additional

salaries to make these positions a reality.


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Strengthen practical teacher training to

ensure qualified teachers, especially in

lower secondary grades and in upper

secondary school. Allow new occupational groups in

schools and better cooperation between

schools and industry, for example through

leadership development programmes that

combine teacher and management training

for newly qualified teachers with Masters

degrees or doctorates in natural sciences.

Introduce Adjunct Teacher and Adjunct

Secondary Education Teacher positions

in lower and upper secondary schools

respectively, modelled on the Adjunct

Professor scheme in higher education.

In consultation with the pedagogicalpsychological service, give teachers and

school administrators the authority to

make decisions on measures concerning

special-needs education.

Contribute to the freeing up of time

by other occupational groups in

schools in order for teachers and school

management to concentrate on students

learning outcome.

2.4 Vocational education and training

The objective of vocational education and training is to create good skilled workers. In the

future we will also require many people to choose vocational education and training. The

Conservative Party wants to raise the status of this training.

That there has been a drop-out rate of more than 50 per cent for some vocational subjects is a

serious matter. The drop-out rate among students who fail to get an apprenticeship after two

years of study is particularly high.


Increase the subsidy for apprenticeships.

Introduce more ambitious target figures

for intake of apprentices by public

enterprises.

Amend the Private Schools Act and permit

industry-driven training pathways in all or

parts of the vocational subjects, and encour-

age new models of cooperation between

industry organizations and state schools.

Permit alternative training pathways, for

example training programmes in business

enterprises, and expand the training

practice certificate scheme.

Increase the opportunity for a rotation

model in vocational education and

training, where students shift between

training in college and in the enterprise

throughout their training pathway, and

allow the training practice certificate to be

taken in English.

Further develop the option for students

who want to combine the training practice

certificate with a university and university

college admission certificate, for examplea technical foundation course (the

Norwegian TAF model).


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Give more students who have taken

the training practice certificate the

opportunity of higher education based on

vocational and prior experiential learning(the Norwegian Y path).

Ensure that the compulsory subjects on

a vocational training programme are

vocationally oriented, so that students are

taught these subjects in a more vocationallyrelevant way, and give the right to

supplementary study after achievement of

the training practice certificate.

2.5 Higher education

Norway is part of a global, knowledge-based economy. Movement of capital, knowledge and

jobs is now almost independent of national borders. The basis of value creation and future

welfare is a well-developed knowledge society.

Given the high cost level in Norway, knowledge is an important precondition for the country

to hold its own in international competition. To meet this challenge, large investments are

needed in education and research, as well as the competence and ability to turn knowledge

into value creation. The Conservative Party will safeguard welfare and strengthen Norways

competitiveness by investing an increasing proportion of the wealth generated by the

petroleum activities in knowledge and innovation.

To keep in step with international competition, a larger proportion of Norwegian research must be

of the highest quality. This requires universities and university colleges that maintain a high stan-

dard, as well as some university communities that are the equals of the worlds elite institutions.

In the years to come, higher education institutions will compete with the foremost seats of

learning internationally. Unless we improve our quality we will lose this competition. The funding

scheme must result in extra investment in those research communities which have the ability to

hold their own internationally in collaboration with the worlds top research communities.

It is essential that professional training courses at universities and university colleges can meet

the labour needs of employers. In a global market for skills and labour it is valuable for Norwegian

students to study abroad, while it is also valuable for foreign students to come to Norway.


Increase core funding to educational

institutions and create greater equality

in the funding of state and private

educational institutions.

Evaluate the structure of higher education

and of the funding scheme for the univer-

sity and university college sector. To obtain

the diversity and quality required to be

internationally competitive, the institutions

must develop different profiles and hone

their research communities. The criteria for



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accreditation of universities and university

colleges will be reviewed to ensure this.

Until these evaluations are to hand, no new

universities are being accredited. Invest in the development of outstanding

study programmes by making use of scienti-

fic expert communities according to the mo-

del of the centres for outstanding research.

Increase the capacity for intake in

engineering and technology

Increase the income threshold for

students, and regulate student grants inline with the rise in the retail price index

and the cost of living.

Introduce student grants for the first year

of Bachelor degree courses in non-western

countries and for the freshman year of

studies in the USA.

Build more student accommodation and

amend the Student Welfare Organizations

Act to enable public-private partnership

and new models for expansion, andencourage building of more private

student accommodation.

Strengthen the vocational technical

colleges and reintroduce state funding of

vocational colleges.

Increase the possibility for NOKUT (the

Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance

in Education) to control the quality of

and improve courses of education and

institutions. NOKUTs reports should be

easily accessible to the public.

Encourage the universities and university

colleges to establish more flexible

decentralized educational programmes.

2.6 Research

Research is shaping the future. Knowledge and innovation will be the driving force that

safeguards Norwegian jobs and further develop the Norwegian welfare model.

Norwegian investment in research and innovation is below the OECD average and lags far

behind the other Nordic countries. We stand out particularly with regard to low investment in

R&D by industry. Norway also scores low in international rankings for its capacity for innovation,

and the same applies to cooperation between industry and academia. This weakens our

competitiveness over time.

The Conservative Party has higher ambitions for Norway as a knowledge-based country. Public

investment in research must be raised to a higher level and keep pace with developments in

other countries. At the same time it must be made far more attractive to invest risk capital in

research and innovation.


Strengthen investment in research

to achieve the goal that research will

represent three per cent of GNP by 2030.

Establish a new research fund within the

Government Pension Fund Global, for

which the yield is earmarked for research.


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Increase investments in advanced scien-

tific equipment and other research infra-

structure, so that Norwegian researchers

have access to world-class equipment. Ensure quality through more targeted

investment in outstanding research

communities and world-leading

university communities in line with the

Global Centres of Expertise model.

Introduce a competition-based funding

scheme which supports university

strategies for internationalization, so

that Norway is in a stronger position in

international work distribution.

Strengthen the open programmes of the

Research Council of Norway which have a

decisive emphasis on quality, for example

the Centres of Excellence (SFF), Centres

of Research-based Innovation (SFI),

outstanding young investigators (YFF) and

funding for independent projects (FRIPRO)

Work towards further internationalization

of Norwegian research, both through

active participation in the EU framework

programmes and by developing bilateral

cooperation with leading research

countries.

Strengthen the programme for the

commercialization of research results

and ensure an increase in contributions

for seed-corn funds for early stage

innovation to create new businesses and

jobs arising out of knowledge institutions. Encourage more research in industry and

a stronger interaction between industry

and academia, for example through the

SkatteFUNN scheme.

Reintroduce and improve the donation

reinforcement scheme.

Strengthen industry-oriented research by

increasing grants to the Research Councilof Norways User-driven Research-based

Innovation programme (BIA) and other

business-oriented efforts.

Increase the number of recruitment

positions and review the working

conditions for researchers to ensure

recruitment and stability in research posts.

Establish a state scholarship scheme

that gives Norwegian researchers the

opportunity to research and teach at

outstanding foreign institutions, and a

corresponding scheme to attract leading

international researchers to Norway.

Establish a fast-track scheme for

processing applications for work and

residency permits for foreign researchers.

2.7 Art and culture

Culture helps challenge us and open us up to the unknown. Art and culture have a unique

value, and should not primarily be used as a tool to achieve other objectives.

Norway has a rich and varied culture. However, in recent years we have seen clear tendenciestowards a power cluster and examples of political interference. A free and independent culture

must not be unilaterally dependent on government financing and the power cluster that easily

follows from this.


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Ensure state funding of the main cultural

institutions and remove state guidelines

relating to content aimed at culturalinstitutions.

Strengthen private cultural funding, for

example through donation reinforcement

schemes and improved provision for

private funds and foundations.

Promote increased cultural

entrepreneurship and innovation.

Reduce bureaucracy with respect to grantapplications in the cultural sector.

Ensure a decentralization of culture and

also strengthen cultural communities

outside Oslo.

Maintain a strong Norwegian film industry

and strengthen regional film funds and

centres.

Introduce an incentive scheme for foreign

film production in Norway.

Strengthen the independent field, and the

band and choir movement.

Improve the culture schools programme.

2.8 Sports and volunteering

The participation by Norwegians in sports and volunteering is among the highest in the world.

This is one of the reasons for the high level of trust between people in Norway. This trust is builton people meeting in small communities, be it in the marching band, the church, the football

team or the volunteer centre.

Sports and physical activity are very important for the health of the population. The

Conservative Party will invest in sports facilities and promote participation in physical activity

for anyone who wishes. Elite and grassroots sports interact with each other. Big international

championships provide important inspiration and also reinforce the grassroots. Norway should

therefore be a regular host nation for international championships.

The strength of Norways future democracy will correspond to the strength of the trustbetween people, and between the individual and the government. The Conservative Party

therefore wants volunteering to grow from below, independent of government control. There

are growing social divides between Norwegians who participate in voluntary work and those

who do not. The content of voluntary engagement has changed from being membership-

based to being activity-based.

When the state provides money to volunteering, there are often guidelines as to what activities

are to be carried out. In order for volunteering to be able to develop on its own terms in the

future, the framework conditions must be adapted to a new reality: volunteering must have a

greater opportunity for financial independence from the state.


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Improve the VAT compensation scheme for

voluntary organizations.

Increase the tax relief on donations to

voluntary organizations and extend the

scheme to encompass local organizations

and projects.

Review the financial framework conditions

for voluntary activity, with a view to

reducing bureaucracy and politicization.

Give voluntary teams and organizations

the opportunity to manage publicbuildings that are used for culture, sports

or other voluntary purposes.

Formulate an executive plan for the

development of buildings and sites, and

build more national facilities. More sports

must be given entitlement to subsidies

from lottery resources for the construction

of facilities.

Strengthen core financing for sports and

more rapid expansion of local facilities by

increasing the sports portion of the NorskTipping lottery surplus to 64 per cent.

Ensure the opportunity for athletes to

combine sports and education, and

strengthen elite sporting skills in different

sports at upper secondary schools and

university colleges.

Abolish the ban on professional boxing.

Continue a policy on gambling thatsafeguards the interests of gambling

addicts and ensure that income from all

types of gambling in Norway is used for

charitable purposes. Decisions on new

gambling concepts are taken by the

lotteries supervisory authority.

2.9 Norwegian cultural heritage and language

The knowledge and experience of our own cultural heritage strengthens our feeling of identity

and social belonging. Knowledge of our own culture gives us security and a good basis to

encounter outside influence in a generous and constructive manner.

Our capacity for social participation is particularly linked to the language. Good language skills are

therefore not only a goal of cultural policy, but also a precondition for our democratic participation.


Provide a boost to both Norwegian language

forms as a main goal, and replace the right

to receive a reply in a persons own language

form with a right for state employees and

language-neutral municipalities to use their

own language form.

Strengthen the Nordic language

cooperation.

Ensure production of Norwegian fiction

and non-fiction.


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Strengthen the Cultural Heritage Fund

and the work on folk music, folk dance

and handicrafts, as well as small-scale

occupations that are worth preservation. Provide tax relief for restoration costs

associated with protected buildings.

Prepare the libraries for the digital world,

and ensure continued free loaning of

literature.

Increase the digitalization of museums and

archives.

Pursue a book policy that strengthens

interest in reading and safeguards the

development of Norwegian authorship,

and say No to the Books Act. Encourage conservation through active

use of the cultural heritage, preferably with

new, alternative activity.

Give local government greater influence

over the form of writing names.

2.10 The media

The digitalization of the media is resulting in fundamental changes to how the media is

represented, in terms of public participation, the media as products and the way in which

editorial work is conducted.

The main challenge in media policy is to facilitate good news production, sustainable editorialstaff and a broadly arranged public dialogue in the digital media society of the future. Media

policy must therefore encourage novelty and innovation while safeguarding the traditions and

fundamental values of the free press.


Modernize the media policy

implementation system for the digital

world through the greatest possible

equality of treatment for the media

regardless of the technological platform.

Tailor the restrictions on media ownership

to the wish to ensure media diversity.

Place printed newspapers and online

newspapers on an equal footing by

establishing a shared low rate of VAT.

Continue the licence funding for the

Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation

and increase the number of external

productions. The Norwegian Broadcasting

Corporation must not use its robust

financial position so as to weaken the

income base of independent institutions.

Ensure copyright for intellectual property.

Work towards net neutrality and open

solutions to ensure competition.

Facilitate updated infrastructure for the

media in the digital world.

Permit political advertising on television.


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CHAPTER 3:

HEALTH

CONTENTS:

3.1 The patients health service p. 24

3.2 Local health provisions p. 25

3.3 Hospitals p. 26

3.4 Faster healthcare assistance p. 27

3.5 Mental health p. 28

3.6 Rehabilitation p. 28

3.7 Drug and alcohol abuse p. 29

3.8 Public health p. 30

3.9 Care p. 30

3.10 Gene technology and biotechnology p. 32


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24 HEALTH

3.1 The patients health service

Norway has a good public health service that provides help for most of the populationregardless of status and income. Although ensuring assistance for those who need treatment

and care is a cornerstone of the Norwegian welfare model, many of those who have the

greatest need for help do not receive what they are entitled to.

It is a public responsibility to ensure that the entire population has access to good health and

care services. The Conservative Party therefore wants everyone to be given the necessary health

provisions when they need them.

Neither drug and alcohol abusers nor those with mental health problems currently receive

adequate assistance. The health service saves many lives, but it often fails when there is a needfor the rehabilitation and re ablement that makes it possible to live an active and fulfilling life.

Cancer patients experience that it takes too long for them to be diagnosed and that they are

denied access to newer treatment methods. Even though there is available capacity at private

health institutions, many wait a long time for simple interventions. Far too many are injured and

die as a result of errors and deficiencies in the health service.

Patients charges in the health and care sector do not contribute adequately to levelling out

social inequality or to protecting those who have large expenses and low incomes. Patient

charges also hinder collaboration and have no correlation with prioritizations in the health

service. There is a need to change these charges so that they function in line with health policy

objectives. There is also a need to convert a large number of the prioritization decisions in the

health service into political decisions, and to create arenas where policy and healthcare can be

discussed.


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HEALTH 25

3.2 Local health provisions

Health and care services in the municipalities must be strengthened (the primary healthservice), and better coordination of the health and care provisions must be secured.

Strengthening the primary health service will provide patients with better options that will

reduce travelling distances, enhance the quality of the treatment and ensure that resources are

utilized at an early point in time to prevent the deterioration of illness.


Expand the general health service in the

municipalities and encourage the joint

location of more health provisions at local

healthcare premises where GPs constitute

the core resource.

Enhance the quality of the municipal

health and care service by establishing

broader interdisciplinary treatment, by

increasing the recruitment of qualified

health personnel and by introducing

competence requirements in the healthand care sector.

Improve access to GPs through better

capacity and the introduction of modern

communication technology, and initiate

refund schemes that make it easier to

provide an all-round service in cooperation

with psychologists, nurses and other

health professions.

Develop a general psychology service in

the municipalities.

Make it possible for some of the

largest municipalities to take over the

responsibility for district psychiatric

centres.

Establish more health provisions in a

collaboration between municipalities

and hospitals to secure patients a better

health service where they live, abolish the

current joint municipal financing scheme

for hospitals and introduce direct funding

schemes for good local collaboration

projects.

Give pregnant women who live a

considerable distance from the place

where they are to give birth the right

to have a person accompany them if

necessary, and develop the midwife

service in the municipalities.

Change patient charges to protect

those who have considerable healthexpenses and are less well off, which will

also improve the correlation between

prioritization and the goal of continuous

health services in the patient charge

system.

Increase support for dental treatment for

those who have large dental expenses and

are less well off. Strengthen the public health centres and

the school health service, and enhance

the competence required for identifying

families undergoing crises.

Strengthen the quality of the A&E

service by introducing broader national

requirements regarding its content and

scope.


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26 HEALTH

3.3 Hospitals

There are large variations in the quality of the service offered at different hospitals. TheConservative Party will set requirements regarding certifying the quality of Norwegian hospitals

and ensuring openness about the quality of the service provided. National minimum standards

must be introduced for what the different types of hospital offer regarding provisions and

competencies. Bureaucracy and reporting must be reduced.


Approve a national health and hospital

plan in the Norwegian parliament that

sets both clear priorities for the health

service and minimum requirements for

the content and competencies of different

types of hospital.

Close down the regional health authorities

and replace them with better national

steering of health policy, while at the same

time giving the hospitals greater freedom

and responsibility within the framework ofa national health and hospital plan.

Ensure an efficient flow of information on

the individual patient while also exercising

adequate protection of privacy.

Carry out extensive investigations of

quality at the hospitals for example

mortality rates, re-operations and re-

hospitalizations. Ensure the transparency of quality

investigations, and make these

investigations publicly available.

Establish an accident investigation board

for the health sector, and strengthen the

rights of patients and their next of kin.

Set requirements regarding the quality

certification of all hospitals.

Strengthen patients rights on breaches of

the deadline for treatment.

Establish interdisciplinary diagnosis centres

that provide a faster diagnosis of cancer

and other diseases.

Change the provisions of the Penal Code

relating to transmitting diseases so that

the provisions are in agreement with the

UNs recommendations.

Establish stronger national coordination

and financing of ICT investments in the

health service.

Transfer the responsibility for the buildings

and infrastructure of the health service

to a company specializing in healthcare

buildings, and allow public-private

partnerships to be used for investments in

buildings and equipment.

Create more legal provisions for specialists

on contract, and establish a better division

of labour between the hospitals out-patient clinics and these specialists.

Strengthen the quality of the A&E service

at hospitals. There must be doctors on

duty with competence and experience in

emergency medical treatment.

Make provision for the safe and stable

availability of blood to ensure safety and

quality in the health service by allowing

approved donors to give blood regardless

of sexual orientation on condition that this

is in agreement with health requirements.


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HEALTH 27

3.4 Faster healthcare assistance

The Conservative party will open up the health service by allowing the use of all goodresources and giving all patients freedom of choice. A diversity of health services will enhance

quality and secure speedier assistance to more people.


Introduce free choice of treatment at the

governments expense so that those who

need the required healthcare assistance

can be offered treatment as quickly as

possible.

Require hospitals, when setting a medical

deadline for treatment, also to set the

time and place for this treatment. Central

healthcare authorities (the Norwegian

Health Economics Administration

HELFO) are given the responsibility for

ensuring that treatment is given at another

hospital if the deadline cannot be met atthe same hospital.

Introduce a more efficient and effective

Faster return to work scheme.

Put new medicines and new treatment

methods to use more quickly in Norway.

Set up a scheme whereby pharmacists can

manage prescriptions to make it easier to

buy ordinary medicines at the chemist.

Establish a Nordic cooperation on

advanced treatment methods to ensure

that the Nordic countries can quickly

develop new knowledge and put it to use.

Establish one medical record per

inhabitant to secure better collaboration.

The patient is to have right of use over his/

her own health information and is to be

assured appropriate protection of privacy.

Further develop the My health portal to

become a secure and user-friendly channel

for online contact with the health service.

The portal must allow access to quality-assured information that can strengthen

patients abilities to manage their own

health.

Set a 48-hour deadline for the start-up

of diagnostic procedures on suspicion of

cancer.


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28 HEALTH

3.5 Mental health

There are still substantial weaknesses and deficiencies in the provisions for those with mentalhealth problems. Mental health has long been under-prioritized in the health service, and the

Conservative Party will therefore strengthen efforts in this area. Preventive measures must be

strengthened in the school system and in business and industry by counteracting bullying and

exclusion.


Strengthen the municipal housing,

treatment and follow-up services for those

with mental health problems.

Draw up a plan to provide better

provisions for those with serious mental

health problems and poor living

conditions.

Introduce requirements for the health

authorities to increase the resources for

drug and alcohol dependence and for

psychiatry more than the resources forsomatic treatment.

Implement measures that contribute to

providing help at an earlier point in time,

thus reducing the use of coercion.

Develop the mental health service for

children and adolescents, with emphasis

both on low-threshold measures in public

health centres and the school health

service, and through the strengthening of

psychiatric services for children and young

people.

Strengthen the interdisciplinary

collaboration and follow-up service across

the treatment for drug and alcohol abusers

and the mental health service to ensure

a coherent provision for large groups of

patients with complex illnesses.

Introduce free choice of treatment so it will

be easier to choose treatment that worksand that can be initiated quickly.

Establish special ambulances for psychiatry

to ensure improved competence on

admittance and to reduce the burden on

the patient and the police.

Strengthen the day-care service for people

who suffer from mental health problems.

3.6 Rehabilitation

More lives can be saved with the help of good emergency medicine and better treatment

methods. However, there are considerable deficiencies in the provisions for re-ablement and

rehabilitation, and these deficiencies result in lost opportunities for many individuals. It is

not sufficient simply to give emergency healthcare assistance: the health service must also

contribute as far as possible to helping people to return to an active life that enables each

individual to participate in both society and work.


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HEALTH 29


Draw up an escalation plan to strengthen

the re-ablement and rehabilitation

services.

Extend the free hospital choice scheme to

also apply to rehabilitation.

Develop a good collaboration and

stable framework conditions for private

rehabilitation institutions of high

professional quality.

Offer services based on peer experience to

patients who need specialist re-ablementand rehabilitation.

Strengthen in particular the re-ablement

and rehabilitation service for drug and

alcohol abusers and for children withreduced functional ability.

Make sure that children with

communication problems and their next

of kin have access to technical aids and to

the required instruction.

3.7 Drug and alcohol abuse

The waiting time for treatment for drug and alcohol abusers is too long. The Conservative

Party wants more appropriate and fair treatment for people who suffer from drug or alcoholdependency.


Draw up an escalation plan to strengthen

the provisions for treatment for drug and

alcohol abusers as well as for care, low-

threshold health services and follow-up

measures.

Pave the way for a diversity of treatment

provisions and for free choice for users.

Strengthen the provisions for support

measures for the next of kin particularly

for children and young people.

Continue to ban the possession and use of

narcotic drugs.

Strengthen the social and health

rehabilitation service for those who

participate in drug-assisted rehabilitation,

including providing housing.

Open more reception centres for drug and

alcohol abusers in the largest towns.

Introduce a seamless transition from

detoxification to rehabilitation.


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30 HEALTH

3.8 Public health

Our health service will not be sustainable if the development in the scope and extent of lifestyleillnesses continues. Individuals must take greater responsibility for their own health, and society

must create the conditions for wise choices. The lack of physical activity and the consumption

of sugar, fat, alcohol and tobacco create a substantial burden on both the individual and

society. In addition, our mental health is not given sufficient priority in public health work.

Lifestyle illnesses are also the most important cause of social inequalities in health. At the same

time, measures to improve public health must always be balanced against the individuals

freedom of choice. All communities must allow their inhabitants to make their own decisions

even though others may view them as wrong.


Strengthen preventive health measures, in

particular to counteract the development

of lifestyle-related health problems.

Cooperate with inter-municipal outdoor

recreation boards and voluntary

organizations to improve public health

for example through physical activity andoutdoor recreation.

Pave the way for more physical activity

in the population and at school, and

encourage a healthier diet.

Include mental health as an equal

component of other public health

measures.

3.9 Care

The increase in life expectancy and the higher number of young people needing nursing and

care requires greater capacity and quality in the nursing and care sector. Enhanced competence

and changes in the care services working methods aim to help more individuals to live at

home and to choose their activities themselves. Freedom of choice in care extends individuals

opportunities to run their own lives.


Make it possible for everyone to be able to

live at home as long as they want to, and to

be self-sufficient in everyday life. Those who

suffer from reduced functional ability, orwho are at risk of suffering from this, must

be offered rehabilitation on a daily basis.

Build enough nursing home places and

shared housing for those with dementia

so that everyone can be sure of receiving

help when they need it.

Increase the use of welfare technology.


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HEALTH 31

Make it easier for private companies to

build nursing homes and other housing

solutions for the elderly.

Introduce competence requirements forhealth personnel in the Act relating to

municipal health and care.

Introduce national investigations as a basis

for improving the range of services.

Remove the joint municipal financing of

the specialist health service for diagnoses

that mainly affect elderly people in order

to protect this group from discriminationin the health service.

Ensure better coverage of doctors at

nursing homes for example through

giving nursing home doctors the same

level of salary as hospital doctors. Doctors

working hours in a nursing home must

be regarded as a period of training and

be included as part of the specialization

process.

Set up more teaching nursing homes

and strengthen the scheme for teaching

home-based nursing care.

Offer a permanent assistance scheme to

those who need help to avoid them being

constantly obliged to relate to new people.

Strengthen the provisions for those

with dementia, both at home and in

institutions, and reinforce the research into

dementia.

Establish more resource centres and day

centres for those with dementia.

Set up a national programme for

interdisciplinary research into geriatrics.

Give those with a comprehensive need for

help greater freedom of choice through astatutory right to choose user-managed

personal assistance.

Strengthen the offer of respite care,

guidance and financial compensation for

next of kin.

Establish that everyone is entitled to

good palliative treatment that provides

a dignified end to life, but that respectfor human worth also entails a clear No

to euthanasia. Introduce a joint state

financing scheme for setting up hospices.

Promote more development of adapted

housing, and ensure everyone the

opportunity to choose among different

forms of residence.

Change the rules of the Norwegian

State Housing Bank to make it possible

to establish shared housing as housing

associations.

Allow the establishment of private bidders

in the care sector, including within

municipal services.

Ensure that those who need care are given

the opportunity for social participation

and coping, and strengthen the work of

voluntary organizations on enjoyment of

life for elderly people.

Make sure that the care service is

characterized by freedom of choice.


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32 HEALTH

3.10 Gene technology and biotechnology

Gene technology and biotechnology can provide great opportunities for treating and preventingillness, while at the same time it poses new ethical dilemmas. The Conservative Party will

strengthen the ethical boundaries and the precautionary principle in the Biotechnology Act.

The Conservative Party wants a policy that ensures that a new biotechnological and

pharmacological industry can be further developed and built up in Norway.


Prevent human life being classified on the

basis of personal qualities. Refrain from introducing a state service for

all pregnant women for early ultrasound

examination in addition to the current

provision, as long as no documentation

exists to substantiate positive health gains

for the child or the mother.

Say No to surrogacy in Norway.

Say No to egg donation.

Prevent humans from being reduced to a

means for others.

Say No to research into inseminated eggs.

Strengthen stem cell research into non-

embryonic stem cells.


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CHAPTER 4:

TRANSPORT AND

COMMUNICATIONS

CONTENTS:

4.1 Faster and better development p. 36

4.2 Organization and funding p. 37

4.3 Road and traffic safety p. 37

4.4 Public transport p. 38

4.5 Railways p. 39

4.6 Coastline and harbours p. 40

4.7 Air transport p. 41


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36 TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

4.1 Faster and better development

Norway needs an infrastructure that can accommodate future requirements for safety, qualityand accessibility. More, better and safer roads will link the different parts of the country

together, strengthen our competitiveness and safeguard sustainable communities. A more

modern railway system will make the train a more attractive proposition for all travellers,

incentivize more people to opt away the car, and compete with road transport for freight

haulage. A well-developed air transport system and ferry services, good broadband coverage

and an efficient post and parcel delivery service are important elements in the knowledge-

based society of the future.

Today, roads are being constructed on a piecemeal basis. New funding and development

models will help ensure that roads and railway lines are built at a faster pace, and will deliver

better maintenance. Large-scale developments should be organized as dedicated companies

in public-private partnerships (PPS) or as wholly-owned public organizations with independent

bottom-line responsibility.

The Norwegian road and railway networks are too poorly developed and maintained. The

Conservative Party believes that increased budget allocations are required for investment and

maintenance, and that more holistic solutions are needed with respect to planning, building

and funding. Whenever the construction of roads and public transport solutions lag behind

the population growth, house prices will come under pressure, resulting in more commuting,less leisure time and longer tail-backs. The Conservative Party wants to see more efficient

construction of better and safer roads, a modern railway network, future-oriented air travel and

a user-friendly public transport system.


Establish a maintenance fund and use the

returns from this fund to upgrade roads

and railways. Initiate major PPP-projects (public-private

partnerships) for roads or railways every year.

Increase the use of central government

planning and regulation for important

national developments, for which a project

organization or a PPP may be used.

Simplify the planning system and

introduce binding planning contracts

between municipalities, county

administrations and central government

authorities with agreed completiondeadlines.

Change the work going into the National

Transport Plan to ensure that it becomes

more comprehensive in the future and

that it looks at the various means of

transport in an overall context, e.g. by

introducing scenario thinking.


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TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS 37

4.2 Organization and funding

Any investment made in roads, railways and public transport services is an investment in futurecompetitiveness. Increased mobility provides more accessible labour markets, strengthens the

competitiveness of Norwegian businesses and increases traffic safety.


Substantially increase the rate of

investment in the transport sector.

Draw up a national Motorway Plan.

Return responsibility to the state for theroads that were transferred to county

administrations under the administrative

reform.

Organize convenient sections of

roads and railway lines in dedicated

project companies to ensure faster

implementation.

Allow for new forms of organization and

funding within public-private partnerships

wherever there is a good funding basis

and strong local support.

Allow certain road projects, e.g. ferry

replacement projects, to make use of

longer periods of depreciation.

Develop the Norwegian Public Roads

Administration into a professional and

dedicated employer of road contractors

while transferring all vehicle and

inspection activities to an independent

Road Traffic Authority.

Adapt ferry services to the traffic

development.

4.3 Road and traffic safety

Many narrow and poorly maintained roads without central barriers separating the carriageways,

despite high levels of traffic, contribute to injuries and loss of life in road accidents. There is a

need for higher investment in traffic safety. The Conservative Party wants to make it safer forpeople to travel, and will prioritize central barriers and multi-lane carriageways as important

safety measures.


Build safer roads by introducing physically

separated carriageways and multi-lane

carriageways in order to achieve better

traffic flow and fewer fatalities and injurieson the road.

Change the road design standards by

lowering the threshold for building

physically separated carriageways and

multi-lane roads.


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Set up a special reward scheme to

encourage the building of footpaths and

cycleways.

Strengthen the work on flood defences

and landslide protection, and ensure that

central government shares responsibility

for clearing up whenever infrastructure hasbeen wrecked by natural forces.

4.4 Public transport

A number of Norwegian conurbations are facing major challenges due to population growth

and densification. A flexible transport system is necessary to ensure that the urban areas of the

future can handle the pending traffic growth.

In order to enable the city regions to handle future growth, investment in public transport

needs to be significantly escalated. Central government needs to take on greater and more

binding financial responsibility for the development of important public transport solutions in

the cities.


Develop a dedicated public transport

strategy in connection with the National

Transport Plan, and roll this out in step with

infrastructure plans for roads and railways.

Strengthen the reward scheme for public

transport and ensure that documented

results and future plans are the only criteria

that warrant application for funds from the

reward scheme.

Ensure that central government contributes

to the operation of and investment in

public transport services by entering into

binding and long-term contracts, so that we

may reach the national targets for growth in

public transport.

Strengthen investment in simpler

transitional solutions between different

modes of transport, for passengers as well

as freight.

Consider house-building and public

transport solutions in conjunction with

planning and urban development.

Evaluate and shape licensing policies and

framework conditions for the taxi industry

with a view to providing the best possible

service for consumers and predictable

framework conditions for the industry.

Ensure smarter and more efficient traffic

flows by strengthening investment in IT /

intelligent transport systems (ITS).


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4.5 Railways

Large parts of the Norwegian railway network are ripe for renewal. For the railway to providean attractive transport alternative, the quality, accessibility and punctuality of train services

must improve. We need better local train services and InterCity services around the cities, and

we need to introduce measures to increase the freight capacity of national railway lines. The

Conservative Party will ensure a strong escalation of work to catch up with the maintenance

backlog on the railway.


Introduce full double track running on

InterCity lines in Eastern Norway, and

prioritize crossing loops on important

freight routes as well as rail transport in

and around the cities.

Restructure the Norwegian National

Rail Administration, splitting it into two

publicly owned companies: one with

responsibility for the development and

operation of railway infrastructure and onewith responsibility for the construction and

maintenance of railway infrastructure, in

competition with others.

Design all new railway lines for 250 km/h

or higher speeds and eventually build a

high speed railway network if this proves

to be profitable.

Introduce competition for the operation of

passenger trains on more lines.

Increase investment in the electrification

of railway lines which are currently diesel

operated.

Allow regional public transport companies

to plan and acquire local train services

from NSB or other providers, in order to

achieve better and more comprehensive

coordination of public transport in andaround the cities.


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4.6 Coastline and harbours

Norways long coastline forms an important part of our transport system. Sea transport is losingmarket share. This is a trend that needs to be reversed. The Conservative Party believes it is

important to assist in the transfer of more freight haulage from road to sea. Safety at sea and a

high level of emergency preparedness along the entire coastline are also important tasks.


Initiate a joint action programme to

strengthen the competitiveness of sea

transport.

Modernize the Harbour Act and allow

harbour authorities to become limited

companies.

Review the relevant legislation, fee-paying

regimes and distribution of responsibility

in order to ensure that more freight

haulage is transferred from road to sea.

This includes central, regional and local

government action with regard to seatransport issues.

Ensure continued operation of the

Hurtigruten Coastal Express, for the sake

of the local population, tourism and local

industry.

Strengthen safety at sea and the level of

emergency preparedness with respect to

emissions and accidents at sea.

Ensure that Norwegian Sea Rescue is

in a position to maintain a safe level of

maritime and emergency services along

the entire coastline.

Ensure good monitoring of the traffic

along the Norwegian coastline and

complete the work to upgrade the

marking of shipping lanes and speed boat

navigation channels.

Introduce a ban on emissions to the sea

from all ships in Norwegian waters and

work to introduce an international ban onemissions to the sea.

Consider the Stad ship tunnel as a PPP

project.

Give the Accident Investigation Board

the opportunity to investigate serious

accidents involving leisure craft.


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4.7 Air transport

Air transport is a key part of the Norwegian transport network, and it is important to provideframework conditions that safeguard a good air transport service and the necessary upgrading

of airports and runways. More competition between airports will improve air transport

conditions and encourage providers who are exposed to competition. The Conservative Party

believes that Norwegian airports may be organized as limited companies with private and

public ownership.


Leave the responsibility for air safety to the

government.

Expose air traffic control towers and other

flight safety services to competition.

Make arrangements for local investors to

fund airport expansions.

Ensure that publicly and privately owned

airports compete on an equal footing.


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CHAPTER 5:

ECONOMY

AND INDUSTRY

CONTENTS:

5.1 Economic policy p. 44

5.2 Tax p. 45

5.3 Simplification and less bureaucracy p. 46

5.4 Ownership p. 47

5.5 Innovation and competence in industry p. 48

5.6 Tourism p. 49

5.7 Maritime industries p. 50

5.8 The petroleum industry p. 51

5.9 The seafood industry p. 52

5.10 Agriculture p. 53


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44 ECONOMY AND INDUSTRY

5.1 Economic policy

The level of costs in Norway is high and is out of step with the world around us. Both jobs andstate finances are becoming ever more dependent on the petroleum industry. The Norwegian

economy needs more strings to its bow. The Conservative Party will therefore place a strong

emphasis on strengthening Norways market competitiveness and enhancing the use of

resources in the public sector. The fiscal policy guidelines for use of petroleum revenues will

remain unchanged, but the spending will be redirected towards investment in knowledge,

infrastructure, environmental technology and tax relief, which promotes growth.

The finance markets are global. The financial crisis demonstrated how a market imbalance

spreads and can affect both jobs and countries. This underscores the importance of making

finance institutions subject to international regulation and oversight. The Conservative Party

will make provisions to ensure competitive conditions for the Norwegian financial industry and

wants a Nordic/Baltic harmonization of the regulations.

We have seen a robust growth in public spending in recent years. Along with very good

times for the petroleum-related industries, this has created pressure on wage levels and the

exchange rate of the Norwegian krone. This in turn has weakened Norwegian competitiveness

and resulted in job losses in sectors that are exposed to competition. As a consequence, the

Norwegian economy has been made more vulnerable and more dependent on its oil revenues.

Economic growth is essential for funding and developing welfare. To ensure growth in jobs and

industry throughout the country, the high cost level must be met with resolute investment in

research, education, innovation and modern infrastructure, as well as an efficient public sector.

The Conservative Party will further build on Norways competitive edge and contribute to an

investment that can develop knowledge-based industry. Such an investment is also necessary

to solve other important societal issues, for example environmental challenges and climate

change. The Conservative Party will pursue a taxation policy that promotes distribution of

power and private ownership and initiative.


Maintain control of the Norwegian economy

and thereby help to safeguard jobs in the

sectors that are exposed to competition.

Secure a better balance between the public

and private sector, and ensure that growth

in public consumption over time does not

exceed the growth in GNP for mainlandNorway by redirecting growth in public

budgets from consumption to investment

in knowledge and infrastructure.

Maintain the fiscal rule for withdrawals

from the Government Pension Fund Global

(the Oil Fund), to ensure that the state will

be able to fulfil its pension obligations and

to prevent too great a reduction in sectorsthat are exposed to competition.


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ECONOMY AND INDUSTRY 45

Spend a greater proportion of revenues

from the Government Pension Fund Global

on transport, research and development,

environmental technology, and growth-enhancing cuts in direct and indirect taxes.

Increase investment in research and

development (R&D), for example through

R&D contracts between private industry

and the public sector.

Develop an innovative and efficient public

sector.

Construct roads, railway lines,harbours, shipping lanes and other

infrastructure that is crucial for Norwegian

competitiveness, and utilize new and more

rapid methods of development, such as

public-private partnerships (PPP).

Review rules and organization for

application processes for labour

immigration to ensure more rapid access

to highly qualified labour, including from

countries outside the EEA.

Develop diverse private ownership and

reduce state ownership of Norwegian

industry.

Strengthen the Competition Authority

as an independent government body

and abolish the governments role as

an appeals body for the CompetitionAuthority by establishing an independent

Competition Appeals Board. The

Competition Authority shall also ensure

that there are satisfactory conditions for

competition in local markets.

Reinstate the decision-making power of

the Public Procurement Appeals Board

to create a low-threshold opportunity for

small and medium-sized businesses to

appeal.

Simplify the Public Procurement Act

and make it easier for smaller, innovative

players to participate in the competition to

win tenders.

Make the high-technology defence

companies competitive through robust

repurchase agreements.

Have a national survey programme

for Norwegian mineral resources and

develop a strategy to exploit these in an

environmentally acceptable manner.

5.2 Tax

The Conservative Party will pursue a tax policy that secures the funding of our welfare society.

The level and structure of direct and indirect taxes shall motivate people to work, promote

distribution of power and private ownership, and encourage environmentally friendly

behaviour.

Norway has a taxation system that generally functions well. The progression in the income

tax system ensures that the highest earners also pay the most tax. However, the taxation on

low and regular incomes is still too high, and must be reduced. Wealth tax drains capital fromNorwegian workplaces and makes it less profitable to save and invest. It must therefore be

gradually reduced and eventually abolished.


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Tax morality is generally good in Norway; however, there are too many people who evade

tax. This means that others have to pay more tax than necessary. The Conservative Party will

therefore fight the black economy and tax evasion.

The Conservative Party will progressively reduce direct and indirect taxes that weaken the

motivation to work, and that curb investment in Norwegian jobs. The timing and extent of cuts

in direct and indirect taxes must be adjusted to the Norwegian economic situation.


Pursue a policy that ensures that it is

worthwhile to work.

Have a tax system that ensures that everyone

who has the ability to do so pays tax.

Gradually reduce and eventually abolish

wealth tax.

Abolish inheritance tax.

Reduce the tax on low and regular incomes.

Make it more financially rewarding to go

from state benefits into work, for example

by introducing a time-limited job-related

tax deduction.

Raise the starting point for higher-rate

income tax, so that people on regular

incomes do not have to pay tax at the

higher rate.

Raise the tax exemption limit.

Make it more profitable to invest in new

fixed assets through more favourable

depreciation rates.

Reduce the rate of tax on earnings through

sales of agricultural businesses and

agricultural property to 28 per cent.

Use the taxation policy to make

environmentally friendly performance

profitable.

Say No to tax on residential properties.

Strengthen the Home Savings Scheme for

Young People.

Ensure fairer taxation for pensioners.

5.3 Simplification and less bureaucracy

Unnecessary bureaucracy inflicts higher costs on Norwegian taxpayers and deprives society

of good labour. The competitiveness of business enterprises is reduced as a consequence of

the administrative tasks inflicted on them and the unnecessary time spent. Founders, business

owners and employees must be able to use their time to create value.

Public services and provisions must be made more easily accessible. The Conservative Party will

show trust in the population and leave more decisions to individuals.


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Implement measures that together reduce

by 25 per cent the costs to industry of

adhering to the requirements set bygovernment.

Introduce an independent Better

Regulations Council modelled on the

corresponding body in Sweden.

Involve businesses in the efforts to simplify

the public sector and try out new schemes

before they are implemented.

Develop simplified legislation andregulatory system for small and medium-

sized businesses.

Raise the audit exemption threshold.

Further develop the public reporting

portal Altinn and have an objective that

businesses shall only need to report the

same information once to the public

authorities. Ensure that offices providing public

services have opening hours that are

better geared towards peoples everyday

lives, and that more of them open on

Saturdays.

Make more public services available online,

so that they can be used regardless of

opening hours.

Introduce a self-service online solution for

taking parental leave.

Set up a scheme whereby pharmacists can

manage prescriptions to make it easier to

buy ordinary medicines at the chemist.

Permit Sunday opening for shops.

Introduce a scheme for in-store Wine

Monopolies in districts with no Wine

Monopoly outlets, within the framework of

the EEA agreement.

Allow the Wine Monopoly to open on

all days when it is permitted to sell beer

(including Christmas Eve, New Years Eve,

Easter Eve and Pentecost Eve), and permit

the sale of alcohol on election day.

Allow municipalities to authorize thesale of alcohol in shops until 22.00 on

weekdays and Saturdays.

5.4 Ownership

Norway has a large involvement in state ownership, but a weak private ownership environment.

A strong and diverse private ownership environment is important to develop strong and

sustainable business communities and industry clusters.

The Conservative Party believes that today the state is too large an owner of Norwegian

industry, and wants to reduce total state ownership. State ownership may be justified on

grounds of special national considerations, but must be predictable and professional. The

Conservative Party wants to strengthen the democracy of self-ownership, so that as many

people as possible are given the opportunity to own their own home, run their own business

and participate as co-owners of industry.


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Abolish inheritance tax.

Gradually reduce and eventually abolish

wealth tax.

Gradually reduce state ownership of

industries.

Increase the tax allowance to encourage

employees to buy shares in their own

companies.

Strengthen the tax advantage of private

pension savings.

Say No to residential property tax.

Strengthen the Home Savings Scheme for

Young People

Support the creation of a low-threshold

innovation exchange to connect business

enterprises with private capital.

5.5 Innovation and competence in industry

Knowledge and competence developed over many years form the basis for a great deal of

Norwegian business and working life. Many established businesses commit to renewal by

investing in research and development of competence and technology, but simultaneously we

are also seeing more and more purely knowledge-based businesses being established.

The high cost level in Norway means that we must raise productivity and pursue an industrial

policy that strengthens the ability of Norwegian businesses to restructure, undertake research,and benefit from opportunities for commercialization. Sectors such as ICT and life sciences are

examples of how competence will play a key role in future industry. These are industries that

both create value themselves, and contribute to increased competitiveness not only in other

parts of industry but also in the public sector.

The Conservative Partys policy for simplification, better framework conditions and knowledge

in schools is also very important for the growth of these industries. The Conservative Party

will moreover pursue a policy that ensures that the public sector makes greater use of the

opportunities created by the knowledge enterprises.


Spend a larger part of the revenues from

the Government Pension Fund Global

on transport, research and development,

environmental technology, and growth-

enhancing cuts in direct and indirect taxes.

Increase investment in research anddevelopment (R&D), for example through

R&D contracts between industry and the

public sector.

Simplify the Public Procurement Act

and make it easier for smaller, innovative

players to participate in the competition to

win tenders.

Strengthen country-wide innovation

programmes, particularly withinInnovation Norway.


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Use industry clusters as a driving force

for innovation, particularly by investing

in National Centres of Expertise (the

NCE programme) and starting up GlobalCentres of Expertise.

Develop simplified legislation and

regulatory systems for small and medium-

sized businesses.

Increase the tax allowance to encourage

employees to buy shares in their own

companies.

Introduce revenue-neutral governmentVAT so that more private service-providers

can contribute to the work that needs to

be done in the community.

Draw up a manual and guidelines for

public-private partnerships f

The right Party”s program in Norway

Documents

Transcript of The right Party”s program in Norway