Cambridge University vice-chancellor Stephen Toope no longer sits on the University’s Remuneration Committee, since a change last November.

The reform sets Toope apart from his predecessor Leszek Borysiewicz, who was a regular member of the committee, leaving the room when his only salary was discussed.

The revelation comes in the wake of a freedom of information request made by the Universities and College Union (UCU), which suggested that 134 vice-chancellors nationwide sit on their institution’s remuneration committee, with just 7 expressly barred from attending.

While Toope is not expressly barred from attending meetings and according to a University spokesperson attends “when required to discuss senior salaries”, he has no input on his own pay.

Vice-chancellor pay packets have been the subject of escalating debate, with Lord Adonis recently making inflammatory comments about Toope's pay. UCU general secretary Sally Hunt has said that “the time has come for proper transparency of senior pay and perks in our universities and that starts with full disclosure of the shadowy remuneration committee.”

Regarding Stephen Toope’s salary, a spokesperson for Cambridge University said “the V-C’s salary of £365,000 a year was set by the University during a global search. The current V-C therefore had no say or influence on the remuneration he receives.” The spokesperson also added that “the University is committed to transparency over senior pay.”

Note: When this article was originally published, it incorrectly stated that the vice-chancellor sits on the University’s remuneration committee. Varsity would like to apologise to the University and our readers for this error.