Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
Zonal pricing could undermine Scottish energy sector, warns Forbes
The introduction of zonal pricing for electricity would be “hugely challenging” for Scotland, the deputy first minister has warned, and urged the UK government to provide urgent certainty on the pivotal decision.
Kate Forbes told a gathering of business executives at Holyrood on Friday that the scheme risked undermining investment into Scotland’s energy sector while also failing to deliver lower energy bills.
“Zonal pricing is going to be hugely challenging as we could end up in the position where we don’t get industrial opportunities and consumers don’t get lower bills,” she said.
“We are urging the UK government to provide as much certainty as quickly as possible on what market reform will look like,” she added.
Click here to read more in the Financial Times.
Ultra-processed foods ‘contribute to 18,000 early deaths a year’
Thousands of middle-aged people in Britain are dying prematurely every year as a result of ultra-processed foods, a study has suggested.
Researchers analysed the diets of eight countries then estimated the number of deaths linked to an over-reliance on foods such as ready meals, confectionery, fizzy drinks and processed meat.
The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, said that about 18,000 deaths in people aged 30 to 69 could be prevented each year in Britain if people ate less ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
Click here to read more in The Times.
Britain to bask in seven-year April high of 27C this week
Temperatures this week could hit a seven-year high for the month of April, forecasters have said.
Some areas in southern England could reach 27C on Wednesday or Thursday, making it the warmest April day since 2018.
A high of 23C is expected in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland while 25C may be recorded in Wales, according to the Met Office.
Click here to read more.
Post Office to unveil £1.75bn banking deal with big British lenders
The Post Office will next week unveil a £1.75bn deal with dozens of banks which will allow their customers to continue using Britain’s biggest retail network.
Sky News says the next Post Office banking framework will be launched next Wednesday, with an agreement that will deliver an additional £500m to the government-owned company.
Banking industry sources said on Friday the deal would be worth roughly £350m annually to the Post Office - an uplift from the existing £250m-a-year deal, which expires at the end of the year.
Click here to read more on Sky News.