Staff 'not missing out'

As Natfhe will be aware, the claim that University of Westminster staff are "missing out" compared with other comparable institutions has no basis in reality (For the record, THES, February 11). Our academic staff are paid on the same nationally negotiated scales, plus London weighting, as the other institutions mentioned.

We place enormous value on staff and routinely monitor turnover and salary levels. In most areas, staff turnover is low and salary levels are competitive. What Natfhe's "analysis" shows is that there are different ways of treating visiting lecturer figures within the Higher Education Statistics Agency return.

Geoffrey Copland Vice-chancellor University of Westminster