Diners in Moray have claimed discounts on 85,000 meals under the UK Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak launched the initiative to provide a boost to the hospitality sector which has been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of 111 restaurants, bars and cafes in the Moray parliamentary constituency have taken part.
The offer was for 50% off the price of a meal up to a maximum of £10 per head and was available Mondays to Wednesdays throughout August.
Figures released by the UK Government have shown that customers in Moray claimed £489,000 in discounts – with an average of £5.78 per meal.
Scottish Conservative MP for Moray Douglas Ross said:
“Rishi Sunak’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme has been a tremendous success across the UK – and I am delighted to see so many people took advantage of the offer here in Moray.
“The discount deal brought many more people through the doors of restaurants and cafes that were struggling due to the pandemic.
“This will have protected jobs and provided a very welcome boost to business owners in the hospitality sector - as well as saving customers some money.
“It is just one of the measures introduced by the UK Government to support the nation through the Coronavirus crisis.
“A third of all jobs in Scotland have also been protected through the HMRC furlough scheme, while the self-employed have also been supported to the tune of £459millionn and businesses have benefited from grants and loans.
“All of this proves the value of the four nations of the UK pooling together to get through this crisis.”