On Monday 18 July 2011 Peter Lawrence, father of missing Claudia Lawrence, joined other families at 10 Downing Street to present the Prime Minister with recommendations from last month's All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Inquiry into the rights of families of missing people.

Ann Coffey MP, Chair of the APPG on Runaway and Missing Children and Adults presented the document alongside Peter Lawrence, Rachel Elias, sister of missing Manic Street Preachers' guitarist Richey Edwards, and Nicki Durbin, mother of missing Luke Durbin.

Today’s event coincided with the announcement that the Justice Select Committee is to launch an official Inquiry into presumption of death legislation – a key recommendation of last month's APPG Inquiry.

The APPG Inquiry, the first in the UK to examine the rights of families of missing people, came about after Members heard about the charity Missing People's 'Missing Rights' campaign to give families of missing people the same basic rights as victims of crime.

The key recommendations of the report are that:
1) There should be a cross government policy framework for missing persons
2) That families are automatically signposted to support services, such as those provided by the charity Missing People, when someone disappears.
3) Families are given the power to declare someone presumed dead, and to steward their affairs, whilst they are missing.
4) Government should give oversight and leadership on the process of cross matching remains against missing persons records.

Ann Coffey MP, said, “The needs of this group of victims must be met, and the Government must listen to the voices of the families and professionals reflected in the recommendations within this report. None are particularly costly and yet, if implemented, would make all the difference in the world to the families.”

Martin Houghton-Brown, Chief Executive of Missing People, said: "As it stands, if your house is burgled you are automatically offered emotional, practical and legal support. If your child goes missing you may get nothing.”

"We look forward to the Government's response to this APPG Inquiry and the announcement that the Justice Select Committee is to examine the need for a Presumption of Death Act indicates the continued belief across the political spectrum that providing the families of missing people with the right support and legal powers is the decent thing to do."

Minister for crime and security James Brokenshire said:

"I welcome the timely APPG Inquiry into this important issue and fully endorse the principles behind the Committee's recommendations.  Protecting vulnerable missing people and providing effective support for families is a critical issue for Government and I strongly agree with the need for a clear vision in this area. That is why I am today accepting the Inquiry's overarching recommendation that Government should set out a cross-government outcomes policy framework for missing persons by developing a missing persons strategy to take forward this work.

"The strategy will be developed over the summer and be published in the Autumn."

To show your support for the families of missing people please leave a message on Missing People's Wall of Reminders at www.missingpeople.org.uk/wallofreminders