Labour: 63% decline in meals on wheels for elderly and vulnerable

Almost two-thirds of meals and wheels services have been cut under the current government according to Labour. Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA

Meals on wheels are being provided to 63% fewer vulnerable and elderly people in England than five years ago, according to research by Labour.

Records show that 296,000 people were receiving food from, or commissioned by, councils in the final year of the Labour government - but that has fallen to under 109,000 this year, the party's analysis shows.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said a shortage in funding meant people were not being given the care they deserved and warned that adult social care funding was in "crisis".

Councillor Izzi Seccombe, who chairs the LGA's community well being board, said: "The LGA has long been warning the services that elderly and vulnerable people rely on, including meals on wheels and lunch clubs, are coming under increasing threat.

"Councils are trying to protect the elderly from the impact of cuts, often at the expense of other services. But there is simply not enough money in the system to provide the level and quality of care that people deserve."

Labour used Freedom of Information laws to ask English councils with responsibility for meals on wheels to detail use of the service and 84% responded.

It used the results to extrapolate the level nationally and estimated that it equates to around 220,000 fewer people receiving meals on wheels services.