Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
Public services costs untenable, auditor general says
The delivery of public services is not affordable in its current form, the auditor general has told MSPs.
Stephen Boyle told The Times that the Scottish Government is facing “an intensely challenging period” to manage its finances.
A gap of £1billion between what Holyrood wants to spend and what it will have available has previously been identified for the 2024/25 financial year and that is likely to grow to £1.9billion by 2028.
McDonald’s unveils CosMc's trial and global expansion
McDonald's has announced the details of its new retro-style restaurant idea, CosMc's, which would operate in the same market segment as Starbucks.
Its pilot, focusing on hot and cold speciality drinks, will open this month near Chicago, and it aims to be in 10 locations by the end of 2024.
Meanwhile, the fast food giant plans to open about 10,000 McDonald's sites globally by 2027, with many in China.
The BBC says the expansion would boost the number of its stores to about 50,000.
Hydrogen heating trial hangs in the balance as local support falls away
A pioneering trial of hydrogen heating has suffered a significant setback after the local council warned ministers that residents are turning against the scheme.
In a letter to Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho, Redcar Council said it was not confident of community backing for the experiment, which is being led by Northern Gas Networks.
The intervention is likely to impact decision-making in Whitehall as Ms Coutinho prepares to rule upon whether the trial will go ahead.
Ministers have said previously they will not approve the Redcar trial without community support, while the local council previously suggested it would welcome the jobs and investment the trial would bring.
Ousting Sunak would be ‘insanity’, Tories told
The Conservative Party chairman has warned rebels it would be “insanity” to oust Rishi Sunak before the next election as the Prime Minister faces a House of Commons defeat on the new Rwanda Bill.
Richard Holden told the Telegraph that split parties do not win elections and urged colleagues not to be “introspective” amid divisions over immigration.
The Prime Minister used a press conference on Thursday to sell his new “emergency” legislation, aimed at getting Rwanda deportation flights in the air, insisting that “only” his approach would work.
But Tory MPs from both the moderate and Right-wing factions of the parliamentary party are considering voting down the Bill.
Banks will have to ensure cash withdrawal facilities available
Banks and building societies face tougher rules aimed at safeguarding the public’s access to cash amid concerns that the closure of branches could isolate vulnerable people who rely on coins and notes.
The Financial Conduct Authority has proposed a new regime that would require lenders to carry out assessments of cash services in their local area if a branch, ATM or other cash facility, such as one provided by the Post Office, is closing and to plug any gaps.
Under the plan, lenders must ensure that alternative cash facilities are available before closing their services and local residents and organisations will be able to request that banks undertake assessments of cash services. The regulator warned that it would use its “full range of powers”, which include fines, to punish banks that persistently broke its proposed rules.
Mobile firms face £3bn claim for overcharging
Millions of UK consumers could receive payouts after a legal claim was launched against mobile phone networks.
Consumer champion Justin Gutmann alleges Vodafone, EE, Three and O2 overcharged customers for phones beyond the end of their contract.
He is seeking damages of more than £3bn on behalf of 4.8 million people.
Responding, EE called the claim "speculative", while O2 said it hadn't been contacted.
Vodafone said it didn't have sufficient detail for its legal team to assess, and Three declined to comment.