The second FMQs of 2023 comes to a close.

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The Senedd will once again be lit tonight in the blue and yellow colours of Ukraine’s flag as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine and its people.

Image source, Senedd Cymru

The first minister says there are over 300 warm hubs in Wales and describes them as "the most amazing, spontaneous effort that we have seen from so many community groups, sports clubs, faith groups, as well as public bodies, to respond to the needs that people see during this winter".

Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds raises concerns about children waiting for an NHS dentist.

She says "in Powys, a staggering 800 children are recorded as needing, and waiting for, NHS dental care".

The first minister replies, "when the minister made her statement on the new contract back in June of last year, we anticipated around 120,000 new appointments in NHS dentistry in Wales; we will exceed that with a quarter of the year still to go. So, while the position remains challenging in many parts of Wales, in the member's own region, taking Hywel Dda and Powys together, there will be over 13,000 new appointments that weren't available last year that will already have been undertaken this year, with more to come".

"The hill to reduce child poverty gets steeper with every year of austerity and cuts to public services" by the UK Conservative government, claims the first minister, who highlights Welsh Government support for the Flying Start programme.

Conservative Gareth Davies challenges him on a "postcode lottery" under the programme, and says "Wales has the highest rate of children living in poverty compared to the rest of the nations in the UK".

The topic was originally raised by Labour's Mike Hedges, who said he's "convinced of the benefits of Flying Start, it stops children starting formal schooling with a developmental age substantially below their actual age".

Mr Hedges suggests a reappraisal using the 2021 census results "with a view to identifying the child poverty being missed".

Image source, Getty Images

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price refers to the UK government's decision to use a Section 35 order to prevent the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill from gaining royal assent - the first time the mechanism has been used since devolution in 1999.

Both Mr Price and the first minister use the words "very dangerous" to describe the move.

Mr Drakeford says it could be a “very slippery slope” but that it was “premature” to say if the Welsh Government would support any Supreme Court challenge.

But he adds: “We have previously made sure that Welsh interests were represented in the Supreme Court, when there were matters of constitutional significance to Wales at stake, and we would certainly be prepared to do that.”

He did not answer a question from Adam Price asking if he agreed with Keir Starmer saying he did not think the new Scottish rules should apply to 16 and 17 year olds.

Mr Price also questions the first minister on the public sector pay disputes and what is the government's strategy "to prevent this winter of discontent continuing on into spring and into summer".

Mr Drakeford rejects the assertion that talks with the health unions last week had "failed" but acknowledges the need to "reinject confidence in the pay review process".

Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, refers to budget airline Wizz Air quitting Cardiff airport.

He says, "to date, the Welsh Government have invested or made available to the airport £225 million - nearly £0.25 billion. You are the owners of the airport, albeit you have set up an arm's-length company to operate the airport. Do you believe that £225 million is money well spent?"

First Minister Mark Drakeford replies, "I have always believed that a regional airport is an essential part of the economic infrastructure of any part of the United Kingdom that seeks to support the modern conditions under which the economy must operate. The private sector was unable to do that. It was right that the public purse stepped in. It's an investment in the future of the Welsh economy".

Image source, Getty Images

The UK subsidy control regime began on 4 January 2023.

The first minister says it "is not the regime the Welsh Government would have designed, nor was it one supported by this Senedd. We will work, however, with public authorities to equip staff to understand and utilise the new regime, mitigating its many imperfections".

According to the UK government "it enables public authorities, including devolved administrations and local authorities, to give subsidies that are tailored to their local needs, and that drive economic growth while minimising distortion to UK competition and protecting our international obligations."

The Llywydd (presiding officer) Elin Jones conducts a ballot to determine the names of members who may table questions to the first minister and Welsh ministers. Each member may enter their name into a ballot.

Conservative Samuel Kurtz asks how is the Welsh Government supporting renewable energy projects in the Celtic sea - the waters off south Wales and the south west of England.

First Minister Mark Drakeford replies that "investment in physical infrastructure and a workforce skilled for the future" are amongst the actions.

Mr Drakeford also tells the Senedd he thinks the National Grid should be nationalised.

He explains, "my own preference would be to bring the National Grid under public control, so that it was run in the public interest, and where there was no leakage into private profit of the resources of that company. In the meantime, we work with the company, and with others here in Wales".

Image source, Getty Images

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the second session of First Minister's Questions in 2023.

The meeting is held in a hybrid format, with some members in the Siambr (Senedd chamber) and others joining by video-conference.