THE father of missing York chef Claudia Lawrence has met with MPs and Peers in Westminster.

Peter Lawrence travelled to the Houses of Parliament with representatives from the Missing People charity, to urge members of Parliament to finally bring in legislation to help families deal with the business and financial affairs of missing loved ones.

Claudia’s Law was developed by the charity along with Mr Lawrence, and many other families around the UK who have missing family members, to help them acts as guardians for missing people.

The law will also close a legal loophole, and allow families to manage a missing person’s bank accounts, cancel direct debits and make sure mortgage payments are made.

The Conservative Government pledged support to the law in March 2015, but more than 18 months on changes to legislation have still not been made.

Today, Mr Lawrence was joined at Parliament by York Outer Conservative MP Julian Sturdy, and met with other MPs to encourage them to help make the change to the guardianship laws that has been promised for more than a year and a half.

He said: “It went very well, we met quite a number of MPs from all parties including two from the SNP who we hadn’t met before.

“Everyone gave their support, including the British Banking Association and the Council of Mortgage Lenders, who said they thought it was a good idea as well. They went to say yes to their customers’ families instead of saying no.

“They want to be able to take instruction from families.”

Claudia went missing in March 2009, and while the investigation into her disappearance has been treated as a murder inquiry by police, no body has ever been found.

Mr Sturdy supported Mr Lawrence today, and has written to Justice Secretary Liz Truss to set up a meeting with the aim of explaining the importance of changing the law.

Mr Lawrence said once the legislation was introduced, hundreds of families around the country would benefit from it.

He said: “Keeping the pressure on is all we can do.

“It will just make so much difference. All the rest of the population take it for granted they can move money around or look after investments, and families of missing people can’t do that, we can’t look after affairs of missing loved ones. There’s a new ministerial team too, so now is a good time for Parliament to put pressure on. It has been a good day and worth the trip.”