An investigation conducted by the BBC has found that most of Scotland’s 32 councils have failed to raise school clothing grants for ten years.
Only eight of the country’s local authorities have increased the subsidy, which exists for parents on lower incomes, over the last decade.
The investigation also showed that applications for clothing grants in Aberdeen have gone down by 40% since 2010/11.
The BBC figures were obtained from several freedom of information (FOI) requests and showed that low income parents could be given anything from £20 to £110 to put towards school uniforms each year.
A 2009 government working group proposed a minimum clothing grant of £70 – but six years on, only six councils have met the recommendation.
The smallest subsidy given for a secondary school pupil was from Angus Council (£20) with the largest by West Lothian (£110).
The 1980 Education Act orders that councils must make provision for the clothing of pupils who could be unable to afford it without the subsidy payment.
Responsibility lies with local authorities, as opposed to Scottish government, for deciding eligibility, the grant amount and application process.
A statement on Aberdeen City Council website says: “The Authority can, in some circumstances, make a grant towards the costs of clothing and footwear for school pupils to those in receipt of certain Benefits.
“The current grant is £55 for primary school pupils and £60 for secondary school pupils.
“For pupils of statutory school age the grant is paid direct to parents; for pupils over statutory school age the grant is paid direct to the student.
“Eligibility criteria is reviewed annually to take account of changes to the Benefit System.”