We punish far too much (Aftenposten)

"Politicians use the penal code against everything they do not like. In this country we are far too liberal in our use of punishment," is the claim made by senior lecturer Svein Slettan, an expert on criminal law. Mr Slettan gives his wholehearted support to proposals to legalize the possession and use of drugs. "We cannot fight social problems by means of punishment," he says. According to Mr Slettan, the core of today’s legislation is based on punishing the weakest members of society.

No political support for legalization of drugs (Vårt Land)

Leaks from the Penal Code Commission indicate that its members want to legalize drugs and liberalize Norway’s pornography laws. The Labour Party, Christian Democrats, Conservatives and the Progress Party do not believe the possession and use of drugs will be legalized. "The proposals belong to another generation than today’s," said Knut Storberget (Labour). But the parties do agree on the abolition of minimum sentences and the easing of restrictions on pornography.

Environmental targets still a long way off (Dagsavisen)

Norwegian emissions of nitrous oxides have been cut by a pathetic one per cent since 1990. "Other European countries have reduced their NOx emissions by 20 per cent or more in recent years. So it is astonishing and incredibly embarrassing that Norway has not managed to do a thing," said Elin Lerum Boassen, head of the environmental organization, Nature and Youth.

Valla provokes union uproar (Dagsavisen)

The nurses’ strike has driven a wedge into the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO). Union representatives have reacted strongly to LO president Gerd-Liv Valla’s criticism of the strike. A number of unions in Oslo have now publicly stated their support to the nurses’ battle for higher pay. "I think the criticism of the nurses is totally out of order. Valla should keep her mouth shut," said Egil Mongstad, chairman of the Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions’ Oslo branch. The transport workers will be raising the issue at the next steering committee meeting.

Minister wants public service wage rises tied to reform package (Dagens Næringsliv)

Central and local government unions have promised to fight tooth and nail against Labour and Government Administration Minister Victor D. Norman’s announcement this week that he would like to see a greater alignment between public and private sector employment terms and working conditions. Mr Norman has responded by giving notice that the first battle will take place over this year’s national wage negotiations. Mr Norman wants to tie wages, employment and working conditions and pension benefits together in a total package in order to reduce the gap between the private and the public service sector.

Mixed response to Norman’s report (NTB)

Progress Party chairman Carl I. Hagen is extremely pleased with the report on the public service sector presented by Labour and Government Administration Minister Victor D. Norman (Con). The Norwegian Association of Local Authorities (KS) is also satisfied with the Minister’s ideas on modernizing the public services. However, Labour’s Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen said: "Where Mr Norman has announced changes, they are in the direction of greater disparity between local authorities and regions, and greater use of the private sector. This will primarily benefit people living in large local authority areas. Mr Schjøtt-Pedersen believes the Government is focusing more on the provision of cheaper rather than better quality services.

1,000 tip-offs on money-laundering (Aftenposten)

Last year the National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime received 992 tip-offs about possible money-laundering activities. This is a new record. Banks, insurance companies, securities firms and stock brokers are obliged to notify the National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime if they suspect that a transaction is actually an attempt to launder illegal funds. And they are notifying more and more. Auditors, lawyers and real estate agents will also in future have to notify suspected money-laundering.

Massive support for wolves in Norway (Nationen)

A massive 80 per cent of the population says they want wolves in Norway, but most people want them well away from where they live, according to a comprehensive report on wolves and people’s fear of predators published today. Almost half the population, 48 per cent, is afraid of wolves. But despite this widespread fear, the vast majority nevertheless believe that wolves have the right to be part of the wildlife in this country.

Worth Noting

• It costs NOK 6,288 to fly from Oslo to Tromsø. For the same amount you can get as far as San Francisco or Bangkok. "Something must be fundamentally amiss," said State Secretary Anders Eira. The Local Government and Regional Affairs Ministry has now decided to investigate Norwegian air fares. (Aftenposten)
• Almost no young Muslim men and women living in Norway marry an ethnic Norwegian. From 1996 to 1999 75 per cent of first and second generation immigrant girls from Pakistan, Turkey and Morocco married men living in their parents’ country of origin. (Dagbladet)
• Demands for payment of back taxes amounting to NOK 11.8 billion were sent to Norwegian taxpayers last year. The last instalment of last year’s arrears should have been paid just before Christmas, but NOK 3.4 billion was still outstanding after the New Year. (Aftenposten)
• House-builders can celebrate. Local authorities now have a three-month deadline to respond to building applications. The County Governor has a six-week deadline for handling complaints. More difficult cases can currently take between one and two years. (Aftenposten)
• In 1800 a six-year-old girl was killed by wolves in Sørum. Since then no one has died as a result of a wolf attack in Norway. The risk in Scandinavia is extremely small, concludes a report published today. But the researchers behind the report do not expect to be believed. People’s fear of wolves is rooted in biological and cultural factors. (Aftenposten)
• Despite dog hair on the sofa and complaints from neighbours, we will spend NOK 4 billion on man’s best friend this year. Dog care is a growth industry. (Dagens Næringsliv)

Today’s comment from Aftenposten

Labour and Government Administration Minister Victor D Norman’s address to the Storting yesterday carried the demanding heading, ‘From words to actions’. The theme of his report was modernization, simplification and increased efficiency in the public service sector. However, on this occasion we only got the words. The crucial question is what the Government will manage to achieve when words are followed up by actions. The starting point is well known. Despite having one of the highest public spending levels in Europe, and despite having almost 200,000 more public service employees than we had 15 years ago, Norway still has waiting lists for hospital treatment and nursery places, inadequate provision of care for the elderly, quality problems and discontent in the schools, as well as difficulties motivating employees. Businesses see the public service sector as a encumbrance, and among many taxpayers there is a widespread feeling that the amount we pay in tax does not correspond in reasonable measure to the level of service we receive from the public sector. The need for modernization, simplification and increased efficiency is, in other words, glaringly obvious. The reactions to Mr Norman’s report confirm that competitive tendering will be at the core of the dispute. According to opponents of competitive tendering, it is impossible to reconcile competition and cooperation with public service employees, which Mr Norman has also emphasized. The Minister has drawn up a map. The question is what he will achieve when he starts trying to alter the terrain to match it.