WINCHESTER MP Steve Brine is backing legislation to make it easier for families to resolve the affairs of missing people.

The Justice Select Committee, of which Mr Brine is a member, wants the Ministry of Justice to introduce a new law based on the Scottish Presumption of Death Act 1977.

It would set out a single statutory process whereby a certificate of presumed death can be issued to resolve all the affairs of a missing person, in much the same way as a death certificate.

Chairman of the committee, Sir Alan Beith, said: “Families of missing people are currently confronted with a confusing, costly and emotionally exhausting legal process if they want to resolve the affairs of a loved one.

“In some cases missing people have been held to have died in order to dissolve a marriage, while remaining technically alive in the eyes of mortgage lenders and other agencies.

Mr Brine said: “The law that currently relates to resolving the affairs of missing people is a ‘crazy paving’ of statutory and common law provisions. Few police officers or solicitors have experience dealing with it - because the cases are relatively rare, and there is no formal guidance. This makes it expensive and time consuming for families to find out what they need to do.”

Since the Scottish Presumption of Death Act was passed in 1977 only one person subject to an order under it has reappeared, while around four of five orders are made per year.