It's estimated that 1 in 10 people over the age of 65 in the UK are malnourished , that's over 1 million older people . Malnutrition can effect health & well being, increase hospital admissions & can lead to long term health problems for otherwise healthy & independent older people Increasing costs on adult social care and the NHS. By providing fresh  nutritious meals some social contact and welfare checks helps people to maintain their health enabling them to live at home for longer. Two thirds of meals & wheels services have disappeared in the last 5 years as a result of austerity & local authorities cutting their non - statutory services from their budgets. Making meals on wheels a statutory provision would ensure that our most vulnerable would receive a daily nutritious meal ensuring they are not left to needlessly die of malnutrition .