MP slams 'Mean and heartless' 46% increase in cost of meals on wheels for most vulnerable people
South Lakes MP Tim Farron has raised concerns of the proposals by Cumbria County Council to increase the price charged to vulnerable pensioners for the 'Meals on Wheels' service by 46%.
Meals on wheels is a service provided by the county council to vulnerable people in our community who are unable to cook their own meals and have no other way of getting a hot meal. The majority of people who are eligible and receive this service are pensioners.
In a letter to affected pensioners that was sent out last week, the County Council announced that as of 8th April 2013 the cost of an individual delivered hot meal would increase from £3.50 to £5.10. Tim has raised concerns that this increase in the cost of the service will negate the impact of the pension increase introduced in 2012/2013 of £5.30.
Commenting Tim said: "The Meals on Wheels service is vital for many of the most vulnerable people in our community who would otherwise have no way of receiving a hot meal, which is absolutely essential particularly in light of the recent dire weather conditions.
"To increase in the cost of a hot meal by as much as 46% is mean and heartless and will all but completely wipe out the £5.30 pension increase introduced in 2012, which was the biggest pension cash rise ever seen since its creation by Lloyd George. I hope the County Council will seriously reconsider their decision and ensure that their efforts to cut costs the Council budget will not such potentially appalling impacts on the elderly and vulnerable."