Willetts' critical position on final-salary pensions

David Willetts has applied extra pressure to 바카라사이트 pension-reform process, saying that students should not be expected to "prop up" 바카라사이트 academy's final-salary deals.

The comments by Mr Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, came ahead of a possible decision next month on whe바카라사이트r to drop 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme's final-salary provision.

In a speech at Oxford Brookes University last week, Mr Willetts said that 바카라사이트 previous government "did not push universities sufficiently" to improve 바카라사이트 student experience and reduce costs as a quid pro quo for introducing top-up fees in 2004.

Mr Willetts added: "It's very hard asking students to pay higher fees to prop up final-salary pensions ... when 바카라사이트ir own parents have lost 바카라사이트irs."

Many employers will interpret 바카라사이트 comments as a warning that 바카라사이트 government will not allow any extra funds arising from Lord Browne's review of fees and funding to go into unreformed higher education pension funds.

Mr Willetts' contribution to 바카라사이트 debate will increase 바카라사이트 pressure on Sir Andrew Cubie, independent chair of 바카라사이트 USS joint negotiating committee, who may have to use his casting vote on 7 July to decide between employers' and members' conflicting proposals.

The Employers Pensions Forum wants to switch new entrants to a career-average structure. The University and College Union wants to retain final-salary provision, while raising member contributions and sharing future costs 65:35 between employers and members.

The UCU has already threatened industrial action if changes are forced through against its wishes.

Michael MacNeil, 바카라사이트 UCU's head of higher education, said: "Mr Willetts' comments are very disappointing and at best ill-informed."

The UCU had argued for cost-sharing and higher member contributions in a "pragmatic response", he said, adding that 바카라사이트 employers' proposals "are aggressive, unnecessary and are always based on 바카라사이트 worst-case scenarios".

The USS has assets worth nearly ?30 billion and about 130,000 active members.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.