Logical and fair charges

LEE HARVEY mistakenly uses Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals conferences to demonstrate the ever-rising costs of one-day conferences (THES, June 5). But the Pounds 282 (Pounds 240 plus VAT) figure he quotes applies mainly to commercial companies.

The rate for Mr Harvey, as part of the university community, would be Pounds 195 plus VAT, or for delegates from smaller charities, Pounds 140 plus VAT. The CVCP runs a number of subsidised and free conferences for its members but believes that not all conferences should be a drain on its members' subscriptions. At our last conference, 33 per cent of the delegates were from outside universities. Surely it is right that the CVCP charges more to businesses than to universities?

The quality of our conferences is high and this is reflected in their large numbers of delegates. Any surplus goes back into supporting the CVCP's work.

Diana Warwick. Chief executive, CVCP