Nicola Sturgeon has suggested it may “have been better” if the UK Government’s ‘ Eat Out to Help Out ’ scheme had not happened.
The First Minister made the claim as the number of coronavirus cases throughout the UK continues to grow.
As part of the move out of lockdown in the summer, Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s discounted meals scheme was aimed at getting customers back into restaurants.
It gave diners up to 50% off their bill and 64 million meals were ordered during the first few weeks of the initiative.
However, critics were worried that a scheme that helped pack people into restaurants was the wrong choice to make.
Speaking on ITV's Peston, Sturgeon 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."
Sunak recently defended the scheme from suggestions it had helped contribute to a rise in infection levels:
“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.”
Tory MSP Maurice Golden said: “Anyone who wants to know if the Eat Out to Help Out scheme was worthwhile should ask the pubs and restaurants that were ready to close their doors for good, and all the people working in those pubs and restaurants who were going to lose their jobs.”
