PRESS DIGEST-British Business - April 23

April 23 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

The Times

- Britain's state-owned GB Energy will avoid using solar panels tied to Chinese slave labor after Energy Minister Ed Miliband's policy shift, with a legislative amendment to ensure supply chains are free of slavery and human trafficking.

The Guardian

- British Steel has scrapped plans to consult on redundancies for up to 2,700 workers at its Scunthorpe plant, after the government took control of the firm earlier this month.

- British manufacturers will begin slashing jobs within weeks unless the government secures a deal to shield the UK economy from U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war.

The Telegraph

- Marks & Spencer MKS.L apologized to customers after a cyber attack disrupted contactless payments over the Easter weekend, forcing some shoppers to abandon their purchases, with the retailer saying on Monday it was addressing the cyber incident.

- The IMF slashed Britain's growth forecast, warning Chancellor Rachel Reeves against blaming U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war, as UK policies fuel price pressures, pushing inflation above G7 peers and surpassing U.S. rates despite Trump's tariffs.

Sky News

- Argentex Group AGFX.L, a currency risk management firm hit by fallout from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, is in advanced talks for an emergency sale to rivals, including privately held IFX Payments, after its shares were suspended on Tuesday.

The Independent

- Birmingham's month-long bin strike may near resolution as union leaders and city council officials gear up for talks on Wednesday, raising hopes for residents grappling with accumulating street rubbish.