CALLS for an “urgent government intervention” into pay inequality at universities grew last night as it emerged that half of fat-cat vice-chancellors sit on committees determining their own pay.

Of 143 institutions that responded to Freedom of Information requests, 67 (47 per cent) of them said their vice-chancellor was a member of the university’s remuneration committee.

The revelation comes amid growing concerns over spiralling salary rises for university chiefs – and strike action by lecturers who face their pensions being slashed.