Presumption of Death Bill: Committee stage report

This is a report on the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Presumption of Death Bill (the Bill). It complements Library standard note, Missing persons and the presumption of death (SN/HA/4890).

The Bill is a Private Member’s Bill. It was presented to Parliament by John Glen, through the ballot procedure, on 20 June 2012 as Bill 21 of 2012-13, and had its Second Reading on 2 November 2012. The Bill had a single sitting in a Public Bill Committee on 21 November 2012. No amendments had been tabled and there was no disagreement to any of the clauses. The Bill was reported without amendment. The Bill is due to have its Report stage and Third Reading on 30 November 2012.

The Bill would enable an application to be made to court for a declaration that a missing person is deemed to have died. It would also make provision for varying and revoking the declaration and for the Registrar General to maintain a new Register of Presumed Deaths. The Government supports the Bill.

The Bill would extend to England and Wales.