A TOP government minister has said he is looking at how the government can stop a debacle like Farepak happening again after meeting Newport campaigners.

Vince Cable, business secretary, said the affair was "nothing short of scandalous" after meeting with two Newport campaigners,

Debbie Harvey, Alway councillor and secretary of the Farepak Victims Committee, teamed up with Newport East MP Jessica Morden and others to hammer out their concerns over Farepak.

Mr Cable said he was committed to supporting those affected by the collapse of the Christmas saving firm.

He said: "The victims' concerns are very real and I have instructed my officials to explore how government can help to prevent a similar issue happening again.

"This affair was nothing short of scandalous."

Cllr Harvey, who acted on behalf of the victims of the company ever since it went bust in 2006, said the issues surrounding the lack of regulation of pre-payment schemes were thrashed out with Mr Cable and his team.

"Mr Cable did say that he was happy for us to work with the people at his department and keep an open dialogue so we can work out feasible ways to put protection in place," she said.

Ms Morden said the committee has been given a link directly into the consumer protection team at the department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

"They are going to look at the detail of the complaints about insolvency and how we protect people's money in the future.

"It was a good chance to get things off their chest with him in person."

Cllr Harvey recently slammed an announcement from Farepak liquidators BDO that victims would have received around 50p in every £1 they were owed after a payment next month, saying it was misleading.

Customers and agents will receive 32p in the pound in a payment next month. The rest, 17.5p of the 50p, has been given to victims by a charity.