A LAW named after missing woman Claudia Lawrence has moved a step closer.

Claudia’s Law is designed to create a new legal status of guardian of the property and affairs of anyone missing for more than 90 days, enabling families of missing people to manage their loved ones’ affairs.

The Guardianship (Missing Persons) Bill passed through its Third Reading in the House of Commons.

Ryedale MP Kevin Hollinrake, who introduced the bill, said: “I am so pleased that this bill has been so well supported. I know it will make a huge difference to the families of loved ones who have gone missing.

“I am especially pleased for Mr and Mrs Lawrence whose daughter has been missing for eight years now, in using the term Claudia’s Law as a tribute to her I hope it acknowledges their valuable input to making this bill happen.

“I hope this will help make their lives a little easier and those of the thousands of other families who have missing relatives.

“I thank them all for their support and that of the charity, Missing People, who represent them so well.

“I am also grateful to my colleagues Nigel Adams MP and Julian Sturdy MP for their work on this.

“The Guardianship Bill has been the product of a collective effort and I am honoured to have been part of the process to get this law into the statute books.”

Claudia was last seen on CCTV walking home from the University of York, where she worked, on the evening of March 18, 2009. Later that evening the 35-year-old spoke to both her parents on the phone, but she has never been seen or heard from since.

The Bill will now go to the Lords and should receive Royal Assent before the end of this Parliament.

Claudia’s father, Peter Lawrence, said: “Thousands of families throughout the UK will benefit from the introduction of the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Bill and I hope that having today passed from the Commons to the Lords it will have a speedy passage there, attain Royal Assent and be enacted as soon as possible thereafter.”