Beware dodgy data

You report that the Association of University Teachers has accused London Guildhall University of paying its junior female researchers 43 per cent less than males.

This is nonsense. The figures take no account of whether the researchers were employed part time or for part of the year. If this had been done, the gap would have been 6 per cent. Even this does not control for age or grade. One of the "junior researchers" is on a high grade and another past normal retirement age.

Rather than "naming and shaming" London Guildhall, the AUT should apologise.

Roderick Floud. Provost, London Guildhall University.