FLEETS look set to escape a rise in fuel duties for 12 months, Gordon Brown is predicted to announce on Thursday.

The Chancellor is expected to say in his Pre-Budget Report on Thursday that the 1.92 pence per litre rise, which had been due in his Budget last year but which has been delayed because of higher world oil prices, is to be scrapped.

The move will cost the Treasury some £750m and means that by next spring fleets will have enjoyed a year free of duty rises - even though they have faced higher prices at the pumps.

Brown also froze vehicle excise duty for a year in this year’s Budget. The extended freeze to be announced on Thursday will mean fuel duties are now 12 per cent lower in real terms than they were during the fuel crisis, and motoring costs are five per cent lower.

Exclusive coverage of the Pre-Budget Statement's impact on fleets will be on FNN on Thursday.