THE father of missing York chef Claudia Lawrence will this week give evidence to a Parliamentary Inquiry on missing people.

The inquiry, which has been set up by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Runaway and Missing Children and Adults, will examine existing support for families and whether any improvements are needed.

It will consist of four sessions and will be co-chaired by a cross party panel of parliamentarians, who will make recommendations to the Coalition Government.

It will look at issues including whether the current presumption of death measures are fit for purpose, as well as cross-matching unidentified bodies and missing person reports.

Peter Lawrence, whose daughter Claudia, from Heworth, has not been seen since March 2009, will speak on Thursday, at the Houses of Parliament about whether a legal guardianship mechanism would help families manage a missing loved one’s practical affairs.

Other speakers will include Kate McCann, whose daughter Madeleine went missing in May 2007 while on a family holiday in Portugal, and Rachel Elias, the sister of missing Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edward.

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.”