April 7 (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

- Three of the UK's largest local government pension schemes have stepped-up calls for Shell SHEL.L to explain how plans to increase gas production are compatible with a goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The Guardian

- British ministers are considering to introduce a legislation to abolish hundreds of quangos as part of the UK government's plans to restructure the state and cut thousands more civil service job cuts.

- Craig Donaldson, the former chief executive of Metro Bank, said he has been made "untouchable", advised to move to Australia and even had trouble opening bank accounts after the UK regulator accused him of misleading investors over accounting blunder.

The Telegraph

- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer eased targets forcing automakers in the country to produce more electric vehicles, in an effort to ease pressure on UK businesses from Donald Trump's trade tariffs.

Sky News

- The Bank of England's currency printer De La Rue DLAR.L is expected to close the 300 million pounds($384.57 million) sale of its authentication arm to Crane NXT CXT.N as early as Monday morning.

- Dale Vince's Ecotricity has hired KPMG to explore talks with prospective buyers for the sale of its solar energy and battery storage project at Heckington Fen in Lincolnshire.

($1 = 0.7761 pounds)

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)

((globalnewsmonitoring@thomsonreuters.com))