§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what meetings he has had with the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals, the Association of University Teachers and other groups concerning proposals to review the system of academic tenure in universities.
§ Mr. WaldenMy right hon. Friend discussed the Government's intentions to limit academic tenure with the Committee of Vice chancellors and Principals in October 1984 and with the Association of University Teachers in January 1985. Both bodies have been invited to comment on the detailed proposals for legislation published on 9 December last.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many individuals would be affected by the proposed changes in the system of academic tenure for university lecturers.
§ Mr. WaldenThe proposed limitation of academic tenure, as opposed to any amendment of provision for dismissal for "good cause", will apply only to those appointed after a future date yet to be specified, and to existing staff on promotion. It is therefore not possible to identify the numbers that will be affected.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has made any recent estimate of the degree to which university academic staff 324W salaries are comparable to those on offer in industry to individuals of similar qualification and experience; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldenNo. The Government continues to believe that the prime determinants of pay levels should be the employers' ability to pay and the need to recruit, retain and motivate staff of the right quality. We noted in our Green Paper on higher education that national undifferentiated pay scales may not always enable institutions to attract staff whose skills are in most demand elsewhere and suggested that the pay structure in the universities should reflect to a greater extent the differential supply of, and demand for, abilities in different subjects.