But it also pledged to introduce a fiscal incentive designed to shift the country's entire petrol market to sulphur-free grades. The announcement of reduced diesel duty came in a package headlined as being a freeze in general fuel duties, with cuts only for ultra-low sulphur grades. A range of other initiatives are designed to placate angry hauliers and motorists. For the former, lorry vehicle excise duty is to be more than halved. The government is to start talks to join the Eurovignette scheme, aiming to force foreign drivers to pay to use UK roads.
Farmers are to win abolition of vehicle excise duty on tractors and similar agricultural vehicles.
Proposed changes include basing rates on emission standards. Authorised mileage rates are to be reformed, bringing benefits for those using more efficient private cars for business purposes. Meanwhile, mileage rates for cyclists are to be nearly doubled, while a small mileage allowance is to be introduced for car passengers. Alongside these announcements, Mr Brown launched a consultation on detailed rules for the UK's greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme due for launch next year. He also stressed that the government might still impose a tax on pesticides unless the industry further improved its offer of voluntary action.