PRESS DIGEST-British Business - Dec 27

Dec 27(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

- UK's Safestay SSTY.L is planning to double the size of its portfolio as the hostel operator seeks to take advantage of the anticipated boom in the global market.

The Guardian

- UK's postal minister Gareth Thomas has spoken of his disappointment that Fujitsu 6702.T, the Japanese company behind the Horizon computer system, has not done more for those whose lives were ruined in the Post Office scandal.

The Telegraph

- The UK plans to impose a levy of 70 million pounds ($87.65 million) a year on tech companies that have more than 250 million pounds in worldwide revenue generated from services covered by the Online Safety Act for the costs of enforcing new internet laws.

Sky News

- The UK government will launch a scheme that will give grants of 20,000 pounds and upwards to non-profit food redistribution groups in England.

The Independent

- British officials are said to be bracing for the possibility that some private schools will close when the policy to impose VAT on school fees comes into effect in the new year.

($1 = 0.7987 pounds)

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)

((globalnewsmonitoring@thomsonreuters.com))