A Swindon MP has said it is "abhorrent" residents are worrying that their energy supplies would be cut off if they cannot pay their bills.

Sir Robert Buckland, who until last year was a government minister, said that a social tariff should be introduced for the most vulnerable members of society.

The politician was speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Saturday about revelations that energy companies were force-fitting pre-payment meters at vulnerable households.

“I think we should be moving quickly to developing what we already have in the water industry,” he said.

“We’ve got social tariffs for people who struggle to pay their water bills or those who need more water because of a medical condition.

“Energy companies, Ofgem themselves and everybody is suggesting now that a social tariff would be a sensible way forward,” he added.

The social tariff that is mentioned would include subsided gas and electricity prices for those deemed to be vulnerable.

“I do think that people in the position of having to worry about prepayment meters or the supply being cut off because there is just no more credit in the tank is abhorrent,” he remarked.

“That is why we need to move away and do what we do in the water industry.”

The issue of who would qualify for such a tariff and how energy companies could differentiate those in need was also raised.

“Data needs to be shared and with the information that everyone has about patterns of payment and about the type of customer you have, you can start to get a greater degree of detail,” he said.

“Everybody concerned, the regulators of the companies themselves and the government, need now to move towards a system whereby a social tariff would be available with appropriate checks of course.

“I think that it would alleviate a lot of these avoidable problems that we are seeing Citizens Advice Bureaus up and down the country, including mine in Swindon, having to help with so ably.”

The politician also commented on energy companies forcing their way into people’s houses to install new meters.

“I don’t think that sort of approach is at all acceptable and it is a violation of someone’s space,” he said.

“I don’t think it is a proper use of the system. All of this is avoidable and reform is needed and should be worked upon quickly.”

“As early as next Winter we could be facing a very different scenario altogether.”