The Charity Commission has been asked by Lord Adonis, a former Labour minister, to investigate the universities it regulates over the amount paid to vice-chancellors.
Over the past months Lord Adonis has waged a campaign against excessive pay and excessive fees in universities, and has now complained to the Commission saying that universities are not complying with the regulator’s guidance.
The Charity Commission does not regulate most universities in England. While universities are charitable, they have their own regulator – HEFCE – and are exempt from regulation. However universities in Wales, and Oxford and Cambridge colleges, are regulated by the Commission.
Adonis sent a series of tweets which detailed the contents of his letter, saying that universities are not “acting in accord with their charitable duties and responsibilities”.
Research by the TaxPayers’ Alliance in 2015 found that over 1,000 staff at Oxford and Cambridge earned over £100,000.
The Charity Commission confirmed it had received Adonis’ letter and was looking into whether it had a regulatory role.
... there is a fundamental distinction between a not-for-profit org & a charity. The pay of uni VCs is one crucial aspect.' @HEFCE ...
— Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) August 15, 2017
I also note that @ChtyCommission advises unis to have ‘a clear policy on proportionate pay' for VCs & top staff, but none appear to have one
— Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) August 15, 2017
