Fuel duties likely to be scrapped
Chancellor Gordon Brown will scrap fuel duties this week, reports claim.
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Brown will use his pre-Budget report to announce the end of the 1.92p a litre increase, unveiled just eight months ago.
The increase was announced – by the Chancellor – in this year’s Budget.
The move to axe the duty is seen as political rather than financial. Ministers are mindful of upsetting motorists in the run-up to the next General Election.
However, it will have some financial cost. The Treasury estimates claim that the abandonment of the fuel duty will cost the exchequer around £400m annually.