The founder of Facebook has been warned that he could be forced to give evidence to a powerful committee headed by Kent MP Damian Collins.

Mark Zuckerberg has been told that a summons will be issued by the committee the next time he enters the UK.

Mr Collins, who chairs the cross-party Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, said Mr Zuckerberg could face what would amount to an order to be quizzed over the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

In an open letter, addressed to the company’s head of public policy Rebecca Stimson, he said the committee was unhappy with the information the company had provided and now wanted to hear evidence from the Facebook chief executive before parliamentary recess on 24 May.

The letter states: “It is worth noting that, while Mr Zuckerberg does not normally come under the jurisdiction of the UK parliament, he will do so the next time he enters the country,” Collins wrote.

“We hope that he will respond positively to our request, but, if not, the committee will resolve to issue a formal summons for him to appear when he is next in the UK.”

The committee has repeatedly invited Zuckerberg to give evidence but while the Facebook founder has appeared in hearings in America, he has declined to do so in the UK.

Instead less senior executives have appeared, most recently with a lengthy appearance by Mike Schroepfer, the firm’s chief technology executive.

In theory Zuckerberg could be found in contempt of parliament if he refuses a formal summons.