Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling are set to meet oil industry leaders amid controversy over soaring fuel prices.
It comes after lorry drivers staged protests over fuel prices in London and along the M4 in Wales on Tuesday.
Labour backbenchers have been pressing for a rethink of plans to raise duty on fuel by 2p in the autumn and put up road tax for some cars next year.
Writing in the Guardian, Mr Brown says high oil prices need a global solution.
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson says the prime minister is keen to keep attention on the rising cost of oil, rather than focus on tax.
Increase oil production
He says an increase in the supply of oil would lower the price of fuel and ease pressure on the government over the planned tax increases.
Mr Brown and Mr Darling are meeting representatives of oil companies in north-east Scotland where they will ask industry leaders what help they would need from the government in order to increase production - such as investment in new infrastructure or oil exploration.
Our correspondent says both the prime minister and the chancellor have been irritated at public hints by Business Secretary John Hutton and Justice Secretary Jack Straw that the government could stage a U-turn over vehicle excise duty.
Mr Hutton said on Tuesday that Mr Darling was "listening to what people are saying" on road tax.
Mr Straw said any decisions made about increased road tax would be announced in the autumn.
Brown to meet oil industry chiefs
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling are set to meet oil industry leaders amid controversy over soaring fuel prices.
It comes after lorry drivers staged protests over fuel prices in London and along the M4 in Wales on Tuesday.
Labour backbenchers have been pressing for a rethink of plans to raise duty on fuel by 2p in the autumn and put up road tax for some cars next year.
Writing in the Guardian, Mr Brown says high oil prices need a global solution.
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson says the prime minister is keen to keep attention on the rising cost of oil, rather than focus on tax.
Increase oil production
He says an increase in the supply of oil would lower the price of fuel and ease pressure on the government over the planned tax increases.
Mr Brown and Mr Darling are meeting representatives of oil companies in north-east Scotland where they will ask industry leaders what help they would need from the government in order to increase production - such as investment in new infrastructure or oil exploration.
Our correspondent says both the prime minister and the chancellor have been irritated at public hints by Business Secretary John Hutton and Justice Secretary Jack Straw that the government could stage a U-turn over vehicle excise duty.
Mr Hutton said on Tuesday that Mr Darling was "listening to what people are saying" on road tax.
Mr Straw said any decisions made about increased road tax would be announced in the autumn.
