A planned increase in fuel duty has been put on hold by the government due to continuing volatility in oil prices.

Junior Treasury Minister John Healey has told MPs that the situation will be reviewed again in the autumn pre-Budget report.

Fuel duty has remained at 47.1p per litre since October 2003. An inflation-only increase had been planned for September 1.

Meanwhile, average prices have hit new highs this week, with unleaded reaching 97.7ppl on Tuesday and diesel at 99.2ppl. This is against a backdrop of continuing conflict in the Middle East which has pushed up the cost of crude oil to record highs.

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