THE father of missing chef Claudia Lawrence has been singled out for praise in the House of Commons by the Prime Minister.

David Cameron congratulated solicitor Peter Lawrence, of York, for his work to help families of missing people resolve the affairs of their loved ones.

And he promised that serious consideration would be given to the Justice Select Committee report which has backed Mr Lawrence’s call for action to be taken.

Mr Lawrence’s daughter, a chef at York University who was born in Darlington and raised in Malton, disappeared without trace three years ago.

Since then her father has worked tirelessly to publicise her case and for a change in the law to give missing people’s families the right to look after their affairs.

The issue was raised at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday by Selby MP Nigel Adams, the co-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Missing and Runaway Children and Adults and a personal friend of Mr Lawrence.

He asked Mr Cameron if he supported the recommendations of the Justice Select Committee’s report into missing people’s rights.

Mr Cameron said: “I think this is an important issue he raises and I pay tribute to Peter Lawrence and his support for this campaign with the charity Missing People.

“The Justice Select Committee has made an important report on this issue.

“We acknowledge the present law is complicated. I recognise all the emotional and practical difficulties faced by those whose loved ones are missing.

“We are going to consider these recommendations very carefully.”