HC Deb 02 May 1989 vol 152 cc1-2
1. Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the optimum rate of earnings of university academics from sources outside universities.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Robert Jackson)

The Department does not collect information about the levels of non-pay earnings among academics.

Mr. Dalyell

Would 20 per cent. of earnings and 20 per cent. of time be a reasonable guess?

Mr. Jackson

The answer probably varies very widely between different institutions and different individuals. We know from anecdotal evidence that in some cases earnings are substantial and in others not. The basic point is that if a pay claim is based on comparisons, like must be compared with like.

Mr. John Marshall

Does my hon. Friend agree that there are retention and recruitment problems in certain subjects at certain universities? Does he agree that those difficulties are an argument for more flexibility in the academic pay structure, and that a shortage of engineers and scientists is no argument for paying exceptionally higher salaries to lecturers in Latin?

Mr. Jackson

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. There is no point in people in universities, particularly the ablest, lecturing the Government about the brain drain if they are not prepared to take steps that are within their power to secure their continued employment in this country.