Cuts at universities, while vice chancellors enjoy huge salaries and perks
Mr Cable said: “It is critical that all of us who receive public funds to provide public services play our part in reducing the burden of public debt and restoring financial health.
“We are expecting the Business, Innovation and Skills Department to apply restraint on all aspects of pay and bonuses with a lead being given by senior staff.
“We expect universities and colleges will wish to do the same.”
In a letter sent to universities, also signed by University Minister David Willetts, Mr Cable said: “All universities have the right and responsibility to make your own decisions. Nonetheless, we hope you will bear in mind these expectations that we are applying elsewhere across publicly funded agencies and services.”
Mr Cable said: “Although it is not our job to control pay, we want to signal to the universities that there has got to be some restraint.”
Martin Machon, regional officer for the University and College Union (UCU), said staff would be “shocked and horrified” about chauffeurs, rent-free houses and expensive artwork.
He said: “University staff are being made redundant in their hundreds across the Midlands and we now hear that vice chancellors are receiving huge annual pay increases and are living with all the trappings of a viceroy.
“It is the old issue of spending other people’s money. They should set an example in these difficult times and should consider pay cuts like the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.”
Aaron Porter, president of the National Union of Students, said: “At a time when vice chancellors are already pushing for students and their families to pay more to access their universities it is disappointing that they think it is acceptable to claim such luxuries.
“The Government has just announced another round of cuts to university funding and students cannot be expected to pay for these kinds of extravagances.”
PAY AND BONUSES OF THE VICE CHANCELLORS
University of Birmingham – Vice Chancellor Prof David Eastwood
Salary: 07/08 - £292,000
08/09 - £310,000 (Unable to provide details for 09/10)
The university also paid approximately £40,000 of pension contributions.
* Expenses: More than 2,000 separate expense claims were made using the expense code of the Vice Chancellor in 2009/10. The University has refused to detail the claims. Prof David Eastwood took over as vice chancellor from Michael Stirling in April 2009.
* Credit Cards: Accommodation and business dinners between October 2008 and July 2009 totalling £4,300.
* Accommodation: The vice chancellor occupies part of a university property, rent free.
He also receives use of a driver and a car. The university also pays for a cleaner and a gardener for the property. The response added: “The vice chancellor occupies part of a property rent free, as a condition of his contract of employment and for the better performance of his duties. The house is also used for meetings and corporate entertainment. The VC does not have a hospitality allowance and has not claimed any expenses for hospitality at the property.
“Should he have the need the VC has access to a pool car and a driver for the better performance of his duties.
“The VC uses public transport rather than the pool car when it is more efficient for him to do so. A cleaner is employed to clean the whole property and a gardener is employed over the course of the year.”
Aston University – Vice chancellor Prof Julia King
Salary: 08/09 - £262,322.32
09/10 - £260,410.96. The University also paid approximately £50,000 of pension contributions
* Expenses: on University Barclaycard: 08/09 - £13,571.76
09/10 - £11,630.12
Cash expenses (taxis and 50% mobile phone bill): 08/09 - £3,785.44
09/10 - £4,162.85
* Accommodation: The university provides the vice chancellor with a small, furnished one bedroom flat, at the Aston Business School, for which she pays the cleaning and laundry charges herself.
A spokesman for Aston University said: “The vice-chancellor and executive team have always acted responsibly in relation to their salaries.
“Last year, the executive team did not take a pay rise, but used the money saved to create a fund for internships within the university for unemployed Aston graduates.
“This scheme is being run again in 2010. All members of the executive team are donors to the university; the vice-chancellor has personally pledged £30,000 for a student-ship in neuro-imaging research within the last 12 months.”
Birmingham City University – Vice chancellor Prof David Tidmarsh
Salary: 07/08 - £213,843
08/09 - £237,864 (Unable to provide details for 09/10)
The University also paid pensions contributions worth £32,021
* Expenses (including personal expense claims, travel and credit card payments): £705.38
* Accommodation: None
University of Warwick – Vice chancellor Prof Nigel Thrift
* Salary: 07/08 - £220,664
08/09 - £247,084
(Unable to provide details for 09/10)
The university also paid pension contributions worth £33,600 in 2008/09
* Expenses: (mostly on travel between 2008 and 2010) Total - £22,787.02
Of which:
Personal Expenses £8,665.29
Corporate credit card £9,493.98
VC’s PA corporate credit card £2,957.35
VCs purchasing card expenses £1,670.40
* Accommodation: The VC is provided with a university-owned farmhouse, which is part of his contract of employment
>MORE: Vice chancellors' rewards at odds with university cutbacks
