IN an era of austerity, tightening one's belt is a little easier if those at the top end of society, particularly those who implement cuts, make sacrifices as well.

Our stories today confirm that hardship rarely knocks on the door on the top 5% of society who are lucky enough to earn over £100,000.

Edinburgh University is one of our best higher education institutions and we need to pay to attract a first class principal. That much is obvious.

However, the “welcome” package offered to Peter Mathieson, the new principal, is outrageous. Not only is he getting a salary of £342,000, but he will receive £42,000 “in lieu of pension contributions,” and a further £26,000 in relocation costs.

Part of the latter sum includes transporting Mathieson’s dog and cat from Hong Kong. Anyone who receives over £340,000 in salary should be footing their own kennel costs.

Similarly, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service does a great job, but the size of the pensions for senior management is outrageous.

When he retires, Chief Officer Alasdair Hay will be entitled to a £113,000 a year pension, an extraordinary sum for anyone in public service.

The Scottish Police Authority is little better. As the Auditor General revealed recently, the SPA pushed through relocation expenses payments worth £67,000 for deputy chief constable Rose Fitzpatrick, as well as paying the same officer’s £53,000 personal tax liability.

Public sector bodies, which deliver valuable services much loved by the public, need to understand the corrosive impact of decisions that serve the few, not the many.