Figures show impact lockdown had on Eat Out scheme in Aberdeen

New figures have laid bare how much Aberdeen firms lost out on a government scheme during the city's localised lockdown.

Just 19,000 discounted meals were claimed in each of the Aberdeen North and Aberdeen South parliamentary constituencies during August.

Those are the second-lowest in Scotland - with only Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles) having a lower count at 9,000.

Across Scotland more than 6.3 million meals were claimed for, meaning just 0.6% of all discounts registered with the UK Government in Scotland throughout August were in the Granite City.

For comparison, nearly 250,000 meals were sold in the smaller city of Dundee, and 122,000 in Stirling - which is less than half the size of Aberdeen.

Hospitality firms were forced to close for a three-week period after a rise in coronavirus cases in the city, meaning they could only make use of the scheme for a select number of days.

There were calls for the initiative to be extended into September, but they were rejected by the Treasury.

More than 100 million meal discounts were claimed across the UK.

The figures cover the period up to August 27, and firms have until later this month to register any further discounts they gave out during last month.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: "From the get-go our mission has been to protect jobs, and to do this we needed to be creative, brave and try things that no government has ever done before.

"Today’s figures continue to show Eat Out to Help Out has been a success. I want to thank everyone, from restaurant owners to waiters, chefs and diners, for embracing it and helping drive our economic recovery.

"The scheme is just one part of our Plan for Jobs and we will continue to protect, support and create jobs to ensure we come back stronger as a nation."

Original 106 has been speaking to Scotland Office minister David Duguid, asking him about UK Government support for businesses in the wake of the pandemic and the city's two lockdowns - and why the Eat Out to Help Out scheme was not continued into September.

You can hear him in the video above.