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Brown to meet oil industry chiefs Brown to meet oil industry chiefs
(20 minutes later)
Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling are set to meet oil industry leaders amid controversy over soaring fuel prices.Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling are set to meet oil industry leaders amid controversy over soaring fuel prices.
It comes after lorry drivers staged protests against rising costs and Labour MPs urged ministers to rethink increases in both petrol and road tax.It comes after lorry drivers staged protests against rising costs and Labour MPs urged ministers to rethink increases in both petrol and road tax.
Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable called on the PM to wait before making a decision over plans to raise duty on fuel by 2p in the autumn.Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable called on the PM to wait before making a decision over plans to raise duty on fuel by 2p in the autumn.
Mr Brown says there is "no easy answer" to the global oil problem.Mr Brown says there is "no easy answer" to the global oil problem.
The government is under mounting pressure to ditch controversial plans to increase road tax on gas guzzling cars.The government is under mounting pressure to ditch controversial plans to increase road tax on gas guzzling cars.
Scottish gatheringScottish gathering
Business Secretary John Hutton and Justice Secretary Jack Straw insisted the prime minister was "listening" to concerns over the planned increase in vehicle excise duty - giving rise to speculation that the government could stage a U-turn.Business Secretary John Hutton and Justice Secretary Jack Straw insisted the prime minister was "listening" to concerns over the planned increase in vehicle excise duty - giving rise to speculation that the government could stage a U-turn.
The cause of rising prices is clear: growing demand and too little supply to meet it both now and - perhaps of even greater significance - in the future Gordon Brown Analysis: Driving towards a U-turn?Speculation over road tax rethink Analysis: Why oil prices are highThe cause of rising prices is clear: growing demand and too little supply to meet it both now and - perhaps of even greater significance - in the future Gordon Brown Analysis: Driving towards a U-turn?Speculation over road tax rethink Analysis: Why oil prices are high
But writing in the Guardian, Mr Brown seemed keen to keep the focus on the rising cost of oil, rather than on the hike in road tax.But writing in the Guardian, Mr Brown seemed keen to keep the focus on the rising cost of oil, rather than on the hike in road tax.
He says an increase in the supply of oil would lower the price of fuel and ease pressure on the government over the planned tax increases.He says an increase in the supply of oil would lower the price of fuel and ease pressure on the government over the planned tax increases.
Mr Brown and Mr Darling are meeting representatives of oil companies in north-east Scotland where they will ask industry leaders what help they would need from the government in order to increase production - such as investment in new infrastructure or oil exploration.Mr Brown and Mr Darling are meeting representatives of oil companies in north-east Scotland where they will ask industry leaders what help they would need from the government in order to increase production - such as investment in new infrastructure or oil exploration.
See how UK petrol and diesel prices have risen
In his Guardian article, Mr Brown called on nations to unite to stabilise the price of oil, which has increased from US $10 a barrel a decade ago to $135 today.In his Guardian article, Mr Brown called on nations to unite to stabilise the price of oil, which has increased from US $10 a barrel a decade ago to $135 today.
He says the UK will argue that a global strategy to tackle the impact of higher oil prices be put at the top of the agenda of the next meeting of the G8 group of industrialised countries.He says the UK will argue that a global strategy to tackle the impact of higher oil prices be put at the top of the agenda of the next meeting of the G8 group of industrialised countries.
'Don't rush''Don't rush'
The development of renewable energy sources must be accelerated and the efficiency of the oil market improved to ease the impact of growing demand, he says.The development of renewable energy sources must be accelerated and the efficiency of the oil market improved to ease the impact of growing demand, he says.
"The cause of rising prices is clear: growing demand and too little supply to meet it both now and - perhaps of even greater significance - in the future," he writes."The cause of rising prices is clear: growing demand and too little supply to meet it both now and - perhaps of even greater significance - in the future," he writes.
"Our goal that Britain becomes a low-carbon economy is now an economic priority as well as an environmental imperative.""Our goal that Britain becomes a low-carbon economy is now an economic priority as well as an environmental imperative."
Footage of the fuel protestsFootage of the fuel protests
Mr Cable, a former economist at Shell, said if he was chancellor he would wait before making a decision on the 2p fuel duty rise - but added he could not see an easy way to pay for scrapping it.Mr Cable, a former economist at Shell, said if he was chancellor he would wait before making a decision on the 2p fuel duty rise - but added he could not see an easy way to pay for scrapping it.
"We have to wait until the autumn and we have to see what conditions are like," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme."We have to wait until the autumn and we have to see what conditions are like," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"There's no point rushing ahead with a decision on that. It may be that the world oil price will fall very substantially in the intervening months and the problem will seem to have dissipated somewhat."There's no point rushing ahead with a decision on that. It may be that the world oil price will fall very substantially in the intervening months and the problem will seem to have dissipated somewhat.
"But I would have the problem, if I was chancellor, of getting the money somewhere else and it isn't altogether obvious where the money would come from.""But I would have the problem, if I was chancellor, of getting the money somewhere else and it isn't altogether obvious where the money would come from."
On Tuesday the Treasury defended its plans to increase duty on more polluting cars registered since 2001 by as much as £200, saying this would increase the incentive to develop and purchase fuel-efficient cars.On Tuesday the Treasury defended its plans to increase duty on more polluting cars registered since 2001 by as much as £200, saying this would increase the incentive to develop and purchase fuel-efficient cars.
'Essential user' rebate'Essential user' rebate
So far, 42 MPs have signed a Commons motion asking the chancellor to reconsider the policy on the grounds that it is retrospective and "unfair" to people who have already bought their cars.So far, 42 MPs have signed a Commons motion asking the chancellor to reconsider the policy on the grounds that it is retrospective and "unfair" to people who have already bought their cars.
Mr Darling is due to meet backbenchers next week to discuss their concerns.Mr Darling is due to meet backbenchers next week to discuss their concerns.
Downing Street says it is keeping an open mind on future tax increases.Downing Street says it is keeping an open mind on future tax increases.
Police said 100 lorries took part in a protest in London on Tuesday. Organisers said the figure was closer to 300.Police said 100 lorries took part in a protest in London on Tuesday. Organisers said the figure was closer to 300.
And in Wales, police said 100 lorries took part in a convoy protest along the M4 motorway. Other estimates put the figure at 170.And in Wales, police said 100 lorries took part in a convoy protest along the M4 motorway. Other estimates put the figure at 170.
The hauliers were demanding an "essential user" rebate of between 20 and 25p per litre on fuel for HGV drivers, without which, they say many will go out of business.The hauliers were demanding an "essential user" rebate of between 20 and 25p per litre on fuel for HGV drivers, without which, they say many will go out of business.
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