PRESS DIGEST-British Business - March 23

March 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

- A former Google executive, Matt Brittin, has been confirmed as the BBC’s new director-general.

- Bayer BAYGn.DE has stopped new patients receiving medicines under an early access scheme, and another multinational is considering a similar move in a dispute with ministers over tax bills for supplying free-of-charge drugs.

The Guardian

- The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK has awarded Palantir a contract to investigate the watchdog’s internal intelligence data in an effort to help it tackle financial crime, which includes investigating fraud, money laundering, and insider trading.

- The British Food Standards Agency said in a statement on its website on Sunday: “Moma Foods is recalling various porridge pots and sachet products because of possible mouse contamination at the manufacturing site.”

The Telegraph

- British Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces a shortfall of up to 20 billion pounds ($26.68 billion) in her spending plans as the Middle East energy crisis piles pressure on the public finances.

Sky News

-The British Premier League's boss has urged top-flight clubs to reach a landmark financial agreement with their lower league counterparts within months, amid concerns that a more draconian deal will be imposed on them by the sport's new regulator.

($1 = 0.7495 pounds)