Since the introduction of the scheme in Dundee, £697,535 has been spent in the city on pupil payments, bonus payments and administration costs. A further £35,000 was spent in each local authority area to set up the initiative.

Glasgow distributed by far the largest amount, with £2,726,242 spent.

The scheme has also proved popular with pupils in Fife, with £644,465 paid out, while there was smaller uptake in Perth and Kinross, where £179,075 has been spent.

The scheme was piloted in Dundee, East Ayrshire, Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire before being rolled out across Scotland in August last year.

Angus had an expenditure of £165,640.

The scheme aims to encourage pupils who might otherwise have to leave to stay on at school.

The Scottish Executive announced last month that research had shown the introduction of EMAs in pilot areas has dramatically improved results.

According to the Executive, the attainment of national qualifications in the second year after S4 also rose substantially.

Children from households on an income less than £19,630 a year are entitled to £30 a week under the scheme.

Those from households with an income up to £24,030 receive £20 per week, while £10 a week is given to children from households where the annual income is less than £30,000.

Students can also receive two bonuses of £150 if they satisfy targets set in their learning agreements.

The Executive has pledged £108 million over three years to fund the staged rollout of EMAs in Scotland.