Letter: Monetary mistake

To imply that large increases in the remuneration paid to vice-chancellors in their final year of service will generate a similarly large increase in their prospective pensions (Leader, THES , February 8) is unjustified and misleading.

Under rule 6.3(b) of the scheme ( www.usshq.co.uk ) the trustee company has wide powers to prevent enhancement of benefits by this means. It is part of our normal procedures to ensure that any non-standard increase in remuneration during the 13 years before retirement of any member of the scheme is checked to ensure that it complies with the rules.

I can assure members of Universities Superannuation Scheme that the scheme is not endangered for this or any other reason. It is also worth remembering that for members who joined the scheme on or after June 1 1989, their pensionable salary is limited by Inland Revenue regulation to an earnings cap - currently £95,400.

David B. Chynoweth
Chief executive
Universities Superannuation Scheme