A YORK MP has spoken in Parliament to urge the government to implement ‘Claudia’s Law’.

Claudia’s Law - the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Bill - came about as a result of campaigning by Peter Lawrence following the disappearance of his daughter Claudia almost ten years ago.

It allows families to manage the financial and property affairs of a person who goes missing.

But although the Act was passed into law, receiving royal assent in April 2017, the Ministry of Justice has still not put it into effect.

Having spoken in Parliament to urge Ministers to bring the law in by July, Mr Sturdy said afterwards: “Families in York and across the country need this Act to be implemented as soon as possible, which is why I got the Minister to commit to updating MPs on his department’s work towards the July timetable for introduction.

“A thousand people go missing every year, with 2500 people already waiting for the activation of guardianship powers so they can protect the interests of their loved ones. I have campaigned on this issue for several years in support of the amazing work of the Lawrence family and charity Missing People...this process has been delayed for far too long. Families urgently need the certainty and relief the Act will bring, and I will continue to hold the government to the July timetable.”

Last year Mr Lawrence was named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for founding Claudia’s Law.

Claudia’s Law enables a relevant person to be named as a guardian by a court 90 days after a person has gone missing.