Abertay University insists details of Professor Bernard King pay-off must stay private
Abertay University has refused to say how much its former principal was given as a pay-off for losing his job.
The university says revealing the pay-off given to Professor Bernard King would be a breach of the Data Protection Act.
- By Grant Smith, education reporter
- Published in the Courier : 11.01.12
- Published online : 11.01.12 @ 04.50pm
Professor Bernard King spent the first half of 2011 suspended from the post he had held for almost 20 years before his forced retiral was announced.
After reaching a deal he dropped the threat of taking his case to an employment tribunal.
Abertay's accounts for last year have been released, showing that Professor King received a salary of £230,000 plus a £30,000 pension contribution despite his suspension.
However, the terms of his settlement have not been detailed and the university said it regarded the information as confidential.
The accounts do note that two senior members of staff were paid compensation totalling £410,000 for loss of office during the year, one of whom received more than £100,000, but the exact sums each was paid are not listed.
Pro-vice-chancellor Professor Rositsa Bateson also left last summer.
A university spokesman said: ''With regard to the compensation paid for loss of office reported in our annual accounts, we will not be revealing details of amounts paid to individuals because we regard this as personal data under the terms of the Data Protection Act.
''Such details may only be revealed with the permission of the individuals concerned.''
Compensation for senior staff at other universities have sometimes been released. Aberdeen University included a note in its 2010 accounts showing outgoing principal Professor Sir Duncan Rice received a severance payment of £215,000.
The Scottish Funding Council — which distributes public money to universities and colleges — has issued guidance about compensation for loss of office. These state that institutions should not place confidentiality clauses within severance agreements unless it is to protect commercially sensitive information.
The SFC notes there may be exceptional cases where it is in the public interest to include confidentiality clauses, but these must be cleared with it first.
The Abertay spokesman said: ''The Scottish Funding Council was kept closely and fully informed of our approach throughout the negotiations, and raised no issues or objections at any time.''
Professor King's departure stemmed from a dispute about his leadership and the direction of Abertay. It saw him suspend his deputy, Professor Nicholas Terry, only for him to be suspended in turn by the chairman of the university court.
Professor Terry was reinstated and remains acting principal while a successor to Professor King is sought.
The dispute is understood to have been a significant factor in the SFC's call last autumn for Abertay to merge with Dundee University. This was resisted after a campaign by staff and students.
The accounts make it clear that, despite the upheaval, the university fared well financially. Its income was £3.3m higher than its £33.7m expenditure, leaving it with a surplus of 9% compared to an internal target of 3%.
07.36pm - 11.01.2012 Bob Crichton - Panissieres, France Report This
He's been paid by the taxpayer. We have a right to know the amount.
12.54pm - 23.01.2012 John Jones - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Bob Crichton: It isn't that simple. Senior managers in complex disputes may accept a confidential pay-off in return for mutual gagging clauses and not suing. Renege and publicise the details of the affair and guess who'll pay Abertay's hefty bill when King sues for defamation and breach of contract?
Add a comment