Half of councils have axed meals on wheels since 2010… but £1.2 billion of Britain’s aid budget could buy 315 MILLION dinners for the vulnerable
Meals on wheels for vulnerable pensioners have been axed by 45% of councils
Others have increased their fees by an average of 20% so many can’t afford it
Comes as ministers unveil plans to allow town halls to increase council tax
By LARISA BROWN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
15 December 2016
Meals on wheels for vulnerable pensioners have been axed by 45 per cent of councils since 2010, figures show.
Others have increased their fees by an average of 20 per cent, leaving many unable to afford the service and contributing to malnutrition across the country.
The revelations come as ministers unveil plans to allow town halls to increase council tax by up to 6 per cent to help pay for social care services.
They will pile pressure on Theresa May to divert the £12 billion foreign aid budget to help tackle the elderly care crisis.
The average cost of a meal is now £3.80. One tenth of the foreign aid budget – £1.2 billion – would pay for more than 315 million hot meals for the elderly.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4035378/Half-councils-axed-meals-wheels-2010-1-2bn-Britain-s-aid-budget-buy-315MILLION-dinners-vulnerable.html#ixzz4SuKXe2cK
