MP Pledges Support for ‘Missing’ Families

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Gisela Stuart joined families of missing people on Tuesday 23 October to pledge her support for the charity Missing People’s Missing Rights campaign which is seeking legislative support for families fighting the bureaucracy and heartache of resolving or managing a missing loved one’s affairs.

Meeting with Peter Lawrence, father of missing Claudia, and Claire Chandler, whose partner went missing in February 2011, Gisela Stuart signed a postcard to formally show her support for the campaign. On the same day MPs also attended a roundtable discussion in the House of Commons which looked at John Glen MP’s Private Members’ Bill on Presumption of Death which is due for second reading on 2 November.

The charity Missing People has campaigned for a number of years to secure support for families and ensure that anyone affected by the ‘missing’ issue is spared any unnecessary anguish caused by financial and legal bureaucracy. In addition, the charity is campaigning for families to be routinely provided with emotional support and should know that everything possible is being done to find their missing loved one.

Gisela said:

“I have sponsored John Glen’s Private Members’ “Presumption of Death Bill”, which is due for its second reading on the 2nd November. I strongly believe this is an important issue.”

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The charity Missing People’s Director of Policy and Advocacy Nicola Sharp said:

“We are deeply heartened by the cross-party support that is being expressed by MPs and Peers in their support of the Missing Rights campaign which seeks to ease the heartache experienced by the families of missing people.

“We hope that the roundtable discussions on Presumption of Death focus Parliamentary attention on this issue as we near the second reading of the Presumption of Death Bill in early November. Legislation on this issue already exists in Scotland and Northern Ireland and it is crucial that the same rights are extended to families in England and Wales.

Missing People’s Missing Rights campaign is calling on the Government to improve the support available to families of missing people.

As it stands, if someone’s house is burgled they are automatically offered emotional, practical, and legal support. If their child goes missing they may get nothing. Families left behind can face their homes being seized, jobs being lost, divorce, social stigma and suicidal thoughts.

The Missing Rights campaign therefore aims for:

• Families of missing people to know everything possible is being done to find their missing loved one.

• Families affected by a disappearance to have access to support.

• Families left behind to be spared the pain of unnecessary financial and legal bureaucracy.

Missing People looking to make these aims become reality through seven specific policy and services objectives, and will work with the Government, financial sector and the police, amongst other institutions to see these changes happen. You can read about these objectives here.

About Missing People

Missing People is a lifeline when someone disappears. The charity turns every £1 donated into £2 of value for missing children, adults and families left behind. They do this by securing free office space, advertising and resources.

Founded in 1993, the charity counts Sir Trevor McDonald OBE, Sir Richard Branson, Sir Cliff Richard, Lorraine Kelly OBE and Stephen Fry as its Patrons.

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