Government: We are committed to proceeding "as swiftly as we can" with Claudia's Law

Peter Lawrence, father of missing chef Claudia Lawrence, in Westminster, London, after a Westminster Hall debate on legal guardianship Credit: PA

The Government is "committed" to proceeding "as swiftly as we can" withproposals to bring in a new guardianship law, dubbed Claudia's Law.

Minister for Human Rights Dominic Raab sought to reassure MPs as he pledged the Government was "committed to taking this measure forward and getting it into law".

His comments came during a Westminster Hall debate on legal guardianship and missing people, brought by Conservative MP Julian Sturdy (York Outer), the constituency MP of Peter Lawrence.

Mr Lawrence's daughter Claudia, a chef, went missing in York in March 2009 and he has campaigned tirelessly for a change to current laws.

He was present for today's debate.

The law would allow loved ones to take over the running of a missing persons affairs while they are away.