THE Government is to use next week's three-day Fleet Show in a publicity drive for a new scheme to help companies cut their fuel bills and clean up the environment. The scheme - to be known as Motorvate - will officially be launched in June, but Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions civil servants will be at the show publicising the project.

With 'green' transport at the top of the Government's agenda, Motorvate - which had the working title of the Greener Fleet Certification Scheme - has been designed by the DETR after consultation with the fleet industry from a recommendation by the Cleaner Vehicles Task Force. Motorvate's core target is a 12% reduction in a fleet's carbon dioxide emissions over three years - 3% of which must come through reduced business mileage. The scheme will be based on an annual assessment of companies' vehicle inventory, mileage patterns, fuel use and progress towards meeting targets.

A DETR spokeswoman who will be at the show talking to fleets at 'The Hub' said: 'A typical 200-strong car fleet could save about £34,000 a year by meeting the scheme targets.' Motorvate will offer fleet management guidance, a telephone advice service and on-site assistance to participating fleets.