The high salaries paid to the UK¡¯s vice-chancellors have been attacked by Jo Johnson, the country's universities minister, who said that Russell Group institutions have a particular case to answer.

In a highly unusual move, Mr Johnson also singled out the University of Southampton?for criticism, after the institution got bronze ¨C the lowest award ¨C in the teaching excellence framework (TEF).?He cited the ?352,000 overall pay package of its vice-chancellor, Sir Christopher Snowden, as a prime example of the ¡°sharp increase¡± in executive pay, saying that Southampton¡¯s head was paid just ?227,000 in 2009-10.

Sir Christopher, a former Universities UK president, has been one of the most high-profile critics of the TEF ¨C Mr Johnson's flagship higher education policy ¨C?telling Times Higher Education that its results were ¡°meaningless¡± and ¡°devoid of credibility¡±.

Speaking at the Festival of Higher Education at the University of Buckingham on 29 June, Mr Johnson appeared to link the TEF to executive pay, saying that there are ¡°legitimate concerns about the rate at which vice-chancellors¡¯ pay is growing¡±.

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Talking about ¡°a Russell Group institution¡­on the South Coast¡± whose leader was paid ?350,000 following a ¡°steep increase¡± in pay, Mr Johnson said: ¡°I want to ensure that the students at that institution are getting the best experience, that they¡¯re getting the kind of teaching experience they deserve.

¡°It¡¯s important that there is a relationship between the fees that they¡¯re paying and the experience they are getting, and that is what is motivating us to introduce the teaching excellence framework.¡±

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In one of the most outspoken attacks on rising executive remuneration, Mr Johnson said: ¡°It is hard at a time when students want to see evidence of value for money to have these concerns about the rate [of increase] of vice-chancellors¡¯ pay.?

¡°I do think vice-chancellors are paid too much, and it does not do much for the morale of their workforce.¡±

¡°I have repeatedly urged sector leaders to show pay restraint ¨C I wish [these calls] had been more closely heeded,¡± he added.

Universities¡¯ leaders within the Russell Group of research-intensive universities had a particular case to answer, Mr Johnson continued, to ensure?that ¡°we are not just subject to an endless upwards ratchet of vice-chancellors¡¯ pay that we cannot control¡±.

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¡°I would urge the Russell Group, as one of our leading university groups, to take steps around this,¡± he said.

In a statement, a Russell Group spokesman said that ¡°as the minister understands well, delivering a high-quality learning experience with access to world-leading research and cutting-edge facilities requires proper management¡±.

¡°Vice-chancellor pay is decided by official remuneration committees which include expert representatives from outside of the sector,¡± the spokesman added, saying that these panels ¡°understand the importance of attracting and retaining experienced individuals who are capable of managing complex global institutions¡±.

Asked if he would consider introducing steps to limit executive pay increases, Mr Johnson said that universities are ¡°autonomous bodies¡± whose pay was set by governing councils.

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¡°However, if the Russell Group wanted to control rates of vice-chancellors¡¯ pay they could ¨C we are watching this very closely and want to see our leading institutions take a lead,¡± he added.

jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com