CAMPAIGNERS for legal reform to help the families of missing people have urged the Government to include a Bill in the forthcoming Queen's Speech.

Peter Lawrence, whose daughter Claudia went missing in York in 2009, said the legislation would be win-win for the Government as it had cross-party support and would not cost anything.

He was speaking at a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Runaway and Missing Children and Adults, held to discuss recent proposals by the Commons Justice Select Committee.

The justice committee called last month for legislation similar to Scotland's Presumption of Death Act to be introduced for England and Wales, and a single certificate declaring someone presumed dead to help relatives deal with their affairs.

It also recommended the introduction of guardianship orders allowing families to maintain the missing persons estate by cancelling direct debits, paying off debts and providing maintenance of dependants.

Committee chairman Sir Alan Beith told today's meeting that the ideal scenario would be for the Government to introduce a Bill in the Queens Speech, on May 9, to be introduced in the next parliamentary session.

Failing that, the all-party group would try to get a private members Bill and lobby the Ministry of Justice to back it to ensure it reaches the statute book.

"My view is no amount of guidance can sort this out unless we make legal provision," Sir Alan said.

Mr Lawrence, a solicitor from North Yorkshire, said the changes were essential and the Government had everything on a plate to bring them in.

"It's not going to take any parliamentary time, it's got cross-party support, there's going to be no massive debates. There is no cost to the Government," he said.

"It's a win-win situation for the Government. There is no opposition to this at all.

"It may not be a coalition priority, but here is an issue where they can gain some credibility and with little time or money they can say we have helped all these people."

Ann Coffey, chairwoman of the all-party group, urged fellow MPs to up the political ante on the Government.

"It would not be difficult to do. It would show a lot of care for families that find themselves with a lot of problems," she said.

Martin Houghton-Brown, chief executive of the charity Missing People, added: This is an opportunity for the Government to show compassion to those in need.