Future Of The National Missing Persons Helpline

EDM number 258 in 1995-96, proposed by Simon Hughes on 10/01/1996.

That this House strongly commends the work of the National Missing Persons Helpline; notes that the Helpline receives over 80,000 calls a year and has achieved a success rate of 64 per cent. of those cases that it publicises; further notes that it receives over 30 calls a day from the police needing its help and has so far received glowing testimonials from 22 chief constables from around the United Kingdom; further notes the particular help it gave to the investigations at 25 Cromwell Street, identifying four of the victims; is concerned that the Helpline is fast becoming a victim of its own success, as it relies mostly on unpaid volunteers to cover its burgeoning work; notes that the Helpline does not receive a penny of public funds and that its application has now been turned down by the National Lottery Charities Board; is deeply concerned that its dire financial position has led to the Helpline becoming seriously overstretched; and calls on the Home Secretary to urgently consider the Helpline's appeals for public support.

This motion has been signed by a total of 69 MPs.