Here are the business stories making the headlines locally and across the country this morning.
Public consultation on restricting meal deals and junk food in Scotland closes
A public consultation on whether to ban unhealthy drinks and snacks from meal deals has closed.
It was announced crisps and fizzy drinks could be dropped from meal deals, among a range of plans being considered by the Scottish Government to crack down on junk food.
The proposals include banning multi-buy offers on unhealthy foods including buy one get one free and unlimited refills.
Restrictions on selling locations within a store, such as placing sugary drinks or fatty foods near tills where shoppers are likely to impulse buy, are also being considered.
Aberdeen University warned of 'significant doubt' over future amid financial pressures
Aberdeen University’s accounts show a “significant doubt” was raised over its future as a result of a series of financial pressures and uncertainties.
In a sign of the scale of the troubles mounting in the higher education sector, the ancient institution suggested it could not guarantee it would be able to continue as a going concern for the next 12 months.
The university highlighted “external uncertainties” - such as rising costs, falling numbers of international students and a cut in Scottish Government funding - which it said created a “material uncertainty” over its ability to deliver its financial recovery plan, achieve key targets and meet the terms of a recent refinancing package.
In its newly-published annual report and accounts, the university said this “may cast significant doubt over the ability of the university and group to continue as a going concern”.
Next wave of Bristow pilots strikes takes off as dispute continues
Helicopter pilots at Bristow are set to commence another wave of industrial action.
Kicking off today (Tuesday 22 May) and running to Thursday, members of the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) are set to continue an industrial dispute as they fight for a pay rise.
“The best way to resolve this dispute would be for the company to get around the table with us with an offer our members can accept,” said BALPA general secretary, Amy Leversidge,
“We have contacted the company and ACAS to let them know our door is open for further meetings if Bristow management can listen to its staff and put forward a fair and reasonable pay offer that is not tied to a reduction in terms and conditions.”
Founder Sir Charles Dunstone prepares to bail out TalkTalk
TalkTalk founder Sir Charles Dunstone is preparing to inject fresh funding into the debt-laden broadband provider, as looming repayment deadlines stoke fears over its future.
Sir Charles and TalkTalk’s other main shareholders have offered to inject £150m into the company to stave off a potential debt crisis, sources said.
The company’s lenders are pressing Sir Charles and TalkTalk’s other main shareholders, led by private equity house Toscafund, to stump up cash to unlock a rescue deal.
Banks behind TalkTalk’s £330m revolving credit facility – effectively a corporate overdraft – are understood to be seeking to reduce their exposure to as little as £150m when it comes due for refinancing in November.
GB News blasts ‘terrifying’ attack on democracy as Ofcom threatens fine over Rishi Sunak show
GB News has accused Ofcom of a “terrifying” attack on democracy after the regulator threatened the broadcaster with a fine.
The media watchdog is considering issuing a sanction against GB News for breaching impartiality rules in a programme featuring Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The Question Time-style show, dubbed People’s Forum: The Prime Minister, sparked 547 complaints from viewers. Ofcom had launched an investigation into the hour-long show, which aired on February 12, over concerns it failed to give appropriate weight to different points of views.
In a decision published on Monday, Ofcom said it had no issue with the programme’s editorial format in principle. However, it branded GB News’s approach to impartiality “wholly insufficient” and said the channel should have done more to manage the risks.