Nicola Sturgeon has claimed that it may "have been better" if the UK's Eat Out to Help Out scheme "hadn't happened".
The First Minister made the comments while speaking to ITV about the rise of coronavirus cases in Scotland.
She said: "I think with hindsight we can say all sorts of things, maybe it would have been better if it hadn't happened.
"I know that that scheme was about trying to incentivise people to help the economy, and we can't be blind to the economic impact here."
The UK Government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which closed at the end of August, aimed to kick start the economy after lockdown.
Offering diners a discount of up to 50% on food or non-alcoholic drinks during the week, the scheme gave many businesses a much-needed boost after months of no income with 64 million meals ordered during the first few weeks of the initiative.
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While critics suggested that the scheme may have helped contribute to a rise in infection levels, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said this suggestion was too "simplistic".
He said: “I think it’s probably simplistic to look at any one thing.
“What’s happening here is similar to what’s happening in many other countries.”
It comes as Nicola Sturgeon confirmed seven new deaths in Scotland on Wednesday as new cases continue to soar. The First Minister also warned that hospital admissions had increased by 60 per cent in the past week.
