A NORTH Yorkshire MP has questioned delays in bringing about legislation to help families of missing people in Parliament.

Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake asked Ministers at Justice Questions today (Tuesday, March 8) about when Guardianship legislation, dubbed Claudia’s Law, will begin its passage through Parliament.

Claudia Lawrence’s father, Peter, has been pushing for legislation to allow relatives of missing adults to have guardianship of legal and financial matters such as mortgages.

Consultation on the proposed law ended over a year ago, but it has yet to be brought into force.

Dominic Raab, Under Secretary of State for Justice replied: “We are absolutely committed to helping families of missing people to deal with the administrative problems they face over and above the heartache that is involved.

“We are working on creating the new legal status of guardian of the property and affairs of a missing person, and we will introduce measures to the House as soon as parliamentary time permits.”

Martin Dales, Peter Lawrence’s friend and spokesman, said: “More urgency is required in the Ministry of Justice to bring in legislation that has cross-party support and would take very little time to effect.”

Mr Hollinrake represents the Malton constituency where solicitor Peter Lawrence formerly lived. Claudia’s mother, Joan, is a Malton town councillor.

The MP said he had spoken to ministers directly about the legislation and there was a willingness across all parties to put the legislation back on track.

“I think the legislation has fallen off the parliamentary conveyor belt and needs to be put back on it,” he said.

March 18 marks the seventh anniversary of Claudia Lawrence’s disappearance in York.