His comments came as Downing Street tried to quell talk of halting taxes on fuel and road duty.  The Prime Minister said that while he wanted to help the “hardest hit” families, the problem of global demand outstripping supply was “long-term”.  After a meeting with oil bosses in Scotland he said: “Of course in the current situation we are trying to do things that will help those families who are hardest hit.  ”This is not just a national problem. It is a global problem of supply and demand, not just in the short term but the medium term and the long term.”  A Number 10 spokesman said that matters relating to taxes would only be looked at, by the Treasury, at the time of the Pre Budget Report in the autumn. He ruled out a repeat of Alistair Darling intervention in the 10p tax row which saw him re-open the Budget and offer a tax a cut to 22 million people.  John Hutton today announced Government plans to boost North Sea oil production by up to 70,000 barrels a day.  After addressing today's board meeting of industry body UK Oil and Gas in Banchory Mr Brown insisted he understood the impact rising oil prices was having on hard-pressed households.  He said: “I do understand the impact the cost of oil, and now the cost of gas and electricity, is having on household bills,” he said, “I do understand what people feel when they go to the petrol station and find that they are having to pay more because the price of oil has gone up all over the world.  ”We have increased the winter allowance for pensioners, we have frozen fuel duty as a result of a decision made by the Chancellor in the budget, we have a new deal with the utility companies that will help low-income households.  ”And we want to increase the amount of insulation and draught-proofing that's done so people's energy bills can come down.  ”And at all stages we are going to look at how we can help hard-pressed households cope with what is a problem in every country in the world. I want to make sure we do everything to help British people.”  But in the wake of a Daily Telegraph campaign for a fairer deal for motorists, minister indicated in Tuesday that the Government was looking at ways of helping motorists.  More than 10,000 drivers have signed the Telegraph petition. But those comments, by Mr Hutton and Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, irritated Number 10.  Number 10 sought to play down suggestions there could be a U-turn over the 2p rise in fuel duty, scheduled for this October and which was postponed in March, and controversial reforms to road tax.  The Prime Minister's spokesman said: “Of course we understand the concerns consumers face, but we also need to take into account the need to ensure economic stability, to fund public services and to promote energy efficiency.  ”All that John Hutton and Jack Straw were saying yesterday was nothing more than of course the Government understands the concerns that consumers face.”  Today's event saw Mr Brown and the Chancellor sit down with oil bosses whose industry makes Britain the world's 12th biggest oil producer.  Last year the industry contributed £9 billion to Treasury coffers but this total is expected to rise with the oil price hikes.  In a BBC Scotland interview later, Mr Darling gave no indication of whether he is planning to cut taxes on road or fuel to offset the impact of rising energy costs.  ”I put off the increase in fuel duty that was due to come in April and I said I would look at it again before October - and I will continue to do that,” he said.  ”In relation to road tax, these proposals do not come in completely until 2010 - they are not even in this year's Finance Bill.  ”But I believe it is right that we make sure we encourage people to use less polluting cars.”  The Chancellor insisted: “I'm very aware of the increased costs - not just for families filling up the car but also for hauliers and industrialists.”  He went on: “I want to do everything I possibly can (to help).  ”And the crucial thing is for us to be taking action at international level.  ”This is affecting every single country in the world, which is why the Prime Minister and I were meeting the oil industry today and it's why we will be taking action over the next few weeks to try and increase the supply of oil and reduce the world prices that people are facing?”
Gordon Brown offered little respite to road users today when he warned that    high oil prices were here to stay.