Commons Sense

House of Commons · PMQs

PMQs

Wednesday 2 April 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Prime Minister thanked Jayne Kirkham for raising the incident involving the killing of aid workers in Gaza and expressed support for a full investigation.
  • Prime Minister pressed the Israeli Government to accelerate their investigation into the incident and expressed thoughts for the families involved.
  • Prime Minister agreed with Alberto Costa that there must be maximum penalties for those who commit brutal crimes like those of Colin Pitchfork.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jayne Kirkham Labour (Co-op)
NHS Foreign Affairs
Context

One year ago, James Henderson from World Central Kitchen was killed while delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. His family seeks confirmation that the government is taking all possible steps to ensure safe return of aid and supplies.

Question

My constituent James Henderson was killed last year along with other aid workers when bringing humanitarian aid into Gaza. Could the Prime Minister confirm he is doing everything possible to ensure aid, power, and supplies are safely returned to Gaza? Also, can he confirm a full investigation into Jim's death will be completed for appropriate action?

Answer from The Prime Minister

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this appalling incident, and our thoughts remain with the families of Jim, John Chapman and James Kirby. Attacks on aid workers are never justified. The families deserve justice, and we are pressing the Israeli Government to accelerate their investigation, including into whether criminal proceedings should be initiated. Israel must stop blocking aid to Gaza, the hostages must be released, and we must have an urgent resumption of the ceasefire.

Answered
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Q2 Alberto Costa Con South Leicestershire
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

Double child rapist and murderer Colin Pitchfork is up for parole. The question seeks the Prime Minister's view on whether such criminals should spend most of their natural life in prison.

Question

Colin Pitchfork, a double child rapist and murderer, is up for parole for the fifth time. Does the Prime Minister agree that men who brutally rape and strangle young women should, as a matter of principle, serve most of their natural life in prison?

Answer from The Prime Minister

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising this appalling case, and I absolutely agree with him that there must be maximum penalties for anyone falling into that category. I saw many of these cases for myself, at first hand, when I was a prosecutor for five years, and worked with the police on really terrible cases, and I know the impact that such crime has on victims. I thank him for raising this.

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