THE FATHER of missing chef Claudia Lawrence has returned to parliament to continue his fight to see Claudia’s Law introduced.

Peter Lawrence has been campaigning with the charity Missing People for the introduction of new guardianship legislation that will help families take control of loved ones’ financial and legal affairs in their absence.

Today (Tuesday, October 18), Peter Lawrence travelled to Westminster to continue to press his case.

Mr Lawrence, along with staff from the charity and other families with missing loved ones met with MPs and Peers at the Houses of Parliament.

Also present were representatives from the British Bankers’ Association and the Council of Mortgage Lenders, who have joined the calls for legislation that will allow families to take guardianship of missing people’s affairs.

Mr Lawrence said it was clear legislation had support across the board.

“We were supported today by MPs and Peers of all parties, including the SNP, who haven’t met with us before, and members of the new shadow justice team, which shows we have cross party support.”

The Government announced it intended to press forward with the legislation 18 months ago.

A debate took place in the House of Commons in support of new legislation in March this year, but any new law has yet to be passed through parliament.

The debate in March had been secured by York Outer MP Julian Sturdy and took place a week after the seventh anniversary of the York chef’s disappearance.

It was supported by a number of MPs representing constituents who continue to be negatively affected by their lack of ability to oversee missing loved ones’ affairs.

They included Chris Evans MP, representing Rachel Edwards, the sister of missing Manic Street Preacher Richard Edwards and MPs Rachel Maskell and Kevin Hollinrake, who supported the debate on behalf of Claudia and her parents Joan and Peter Lawrence.

Joan is from Darlington and lived in the town until moving to Malton, where Claudia was born.

Nothing has progressed since then and the purpose of today’s visit was to ensure new politicians under Theresa May

Mr Lawrence said: “With the changes to the ministerial teams following Mrs May becoming Prime Minister it is a good time to remind the justice department that the government has consulted on the bill and it is now high time legislation was brought forward to help the thousands of families who find themselves in the predicament of having someone missing but not being able to do anything about their business affairs.”

He added that there was no opposition from any quarter to introducing the guardianship legislation and it was unlikely to take up much parliamentary time to get the legislation passed.

“It’s not going to take long to go through debates in either house because nobody is going to object,” he said.

“It’s just getting the Government to make it a priority.”

Claudia went missing from her home in the Heworth area of York more than seven years ago, on March 18, 2009.

She was last seen nearing her home after finishing work as a cook at the University of York. Her family marked what would have been her 42nd birthday in February this year.