good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the man who was the government's chief scientific advisor during the coronavirus pandemic, sir patrick vallance, has been revealing more details about what went on in downing street as covid took hold. sir patrick told the covid inquiry that the then prime minister, borisjohnson, was clearly bamboozled by the science around covid. he says he was not consulted on the eat out to help out initiative it was very obvious that the eat out to help out scheme launched by the then chancellor, rishi sunak, would increase transmission of coronavirus. and key measures to stop the spread of covid — including lockdown — weren't brought in soon enough. here's our political editor, chris mason. it felt like he was on our screens almost every night, sir patrick vallance. . , ., vallance. the evidence i shall give shau vallance. the evidence i shall give shall be the _ vallance. the evidence i shall give shall be the truth, _ vallance. the evidence i shall give shall be the truth, the _ vallance. the evidence i shall give shall be the truth, the whole - vallance. the evidence i shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. in shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.- and nothing but the truth. in his dia in and nothing but the truth. in his diary in summer _ and nothing but the truth. in his diary in summer 2020 _ and nothing but the truth. in his diary in summer 2020 claimed l and nothing but the truth. in his diary in summer 2020 claimed the most seniorfigures in diary in summer 2020 claimed the most senior figures in the british government, borisjohnson and rishi sunak, who wanted to open up the economy were irritated by the scientific advice. number 10 pushing hard on releasing measures. they are pushing very hard and want the signs altered, he wrote. a few weeks later, he said in economics meeting earlier in the day they didn't realise the chief medical officer was there and the chancellor, rishi sunak, said it's all about handling the scientists, not handling the virus. then they got flustered when the chief medical officer chipped in later and they realised he had been there all along. realised he had been there all alonu. ~ . , ., realised he had been there all alonu. ~ . , along. was there a feeling perhaps articularl along. was there a feeling perhaps particularly at _ along. was there a feeling perhaps particularly at that _ along. was there a feeling perhaps particularly at that time _ along. was there a feeling perhaps particularly at that time that - particularly at that time that perhaps— particularly at that time that perhaps you were not being asked for your advice _ perhaps you were not being asked for your advice on good faith? i think there were _ your advice on good faith? i think there were definitely _ your advice on good faith? i think there were definitely periods - your advice on good faith? i think. there were definitely periods when it was clear that the unwelcome advice we were giving was, as expected, not loved.- advice we were giving was, as expected, not loved. rishi sunak -retended expected, not loved. rishi sunak pretended to _ expected, not loved. rishi sunak pretended to be _ expected, not loved. rishi sunak pretended to be a _ expected, not loved. rishi sunak pretended to be a waiter- expected, not loved. rishi sunak pretended to be a waiter to - expected, not loved. rishi sunak pretended to be a waiter to talk. expected, not loved. rishi sunak. pretended to be a waiter to talk up his eet out to help out scheme. flats his eet out to help out scheme. cats cur ! his eet out to help out scheme. cats curry! werk— his eet out to help out scheme. cats curry! werk atsu _ his eet out to help out scheme. cats curry! werk atsu carries _ curry! werk atsu carries an plenteous _ curry! werk atsu carries an plenteous besides - curry! werk atsu carries an plenteous besides were - curry! werk atsu carries an - plenteous besides were subsidised curry! werk atsu carries an _ plenteous besides were subsidised by the state to tempt us to go out again. the state to tempt us to go out aaain. ., the state to tempt us to go out aaain. . ., , �* again. eat out to help out we didn't know about — again. eat out to help out we didn't know about until— again. eat out to help out we didn't know about until it _ again. eat out to help out we didn't know about until it was _ again. eat out to help out we didn't know about until it was announced i know about until it was announced and i think our advice would have been very clear on that. —— katsu. the advice would have been it would spread covid put in his witness statement mr sunak claims i do not recall any concerns about the scheme being expressed during ministerial discussions, including those attended by the chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser. , ., . ., adviser. there is a certain inconsistency _ adviser. there is a certain inconsistency between - adviser. there is a certain l inconsistency between your adviser. there is a certain _ inconsistency between your statement when you _ inconsistency between your statement when you say you think that it would have been_ when you say you think that it would have been apparent to everyone that you opposed it and mr sunak who said you opposed it and mr sunak who said you never— you opposed it and mr sunak who said you never objected to it.— you never ob'ected to it. ministers, thou~h, you never ob'ected to it. ministers, though. an — you never objected to it. ministers, though, did have _ you never objected to it. ministers, though, did have to _ you never objected to it. ministers, though, did have to have _ you never objected to it. ministers, though, did have to have society i you never objected to it. ministers, i though, did have to have society why do well being and the economy in mind, too. but sir patrick vallance claimed borisjohnson almost do often struggled to understand scientific advice. a late afternoon meeting with the pm on the schools. pm is clearly bamboozled, he wrote. a month later, he said, watching the prime minister get his head around stats is awful. sir patrick vallance also said matt hancock had a habit of saying things that turned out not to be true and that dominic cummings who worked for borisjohnson claimed that rishi sunak thought it was ok to let people die, as ministers considered further lockdowns. in the next few weeks the prime minister is expected here, as is borisjohnson and the former health secretary matt hancock. their decisions, theirjudgments are now under the most intense scrutiny. learning the lessons of covid. public hearings here will continue until 2026. chris mason, public hearings here will continue until2026. chris mason, bbc public hearings here will continue until 2026. chris mason, bbc news, at the covid inquiry. so what more have we learnt today about the lockdowns during the pandemic and the timing of them? our health editor hugh pym is here. yes, sophie, an insight into those critical decisions in 2020 made at the highest levels of government — with sir patrick vallance a key player. what was really going on behind the scenes as covid infections soared and an unprecedented lockdown was looming? the coronavirus. .. mid-march 2020, the da s the coronavirus. .. mid-march 2020, the days before _ the coronavirus. .. mid-march 2020, the days before lockdown, _ the coronavirus. .. mid-march 2020, the days before lockdown, still- the days before lockdown, still normal life, but officials and ministers were realising that disaster beckoned if the virus was not suppressed. so on monday the 16th the prime minister had a strong message for the public.— message for the public. now is the time for everyone _ message for the public. now is the time for everyone to _ message for the public. now is the time for everyone to stop - time for everyone to stop nonessential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel. but before that. _ to stop all unnecessary travel. but before that, sir patrick vallance had called in private for a full lockdown in london, an idea which didn't impress rishi sunak. london looks like it — didn't impress rishi sunak. london looks like it needed _ didn't impress rishi sunak. london looks like it needed more - didn't impress rishi sunak. london looks like it needed more and - didn't impress rishi sunak. london looks like it needed more and i - didn't impress rishi sunak. london i looks like it needed more and i made that point in that meeting, it was discussed, there was a very clear rejection of that proposal and certainly i don't think the chancellor was terribly pleased at that moment.— chancellor was terribly pleased at that moment._ well, . chancellor was terribly pleased at i that moment._ well, quite that moment. why not? well, quite rirhtl that moment. why not? well, quite riahtl he that moment. why not? well, quite rightly he was _ that moment. why not? well, quite rightly he was concerned _ that moment. why not? well, quite rightly he was concerned about - rightly he was concerned about the economy. london was very much the engine of the economy and that was a massive, massive decision to take. full lockdown didn't happen for another week. full lockdown didn't happen for anotherweek. sir full lockdown didn't happen for another week. sir patrick vallance and chief medical officer sir chris whitty may have seemed to be joined at the hip but sir patrick vallance revealed they had differed on the timing of lockdown. i revealed they had differed on the timing of lockdown.— timing of lockdown. i think sometimes _ timing of lockdown. i think sometimes i _ timing of lockdown. i think sometimes i would - timing of lockdown. i think sometimes i would want . timing of lockdown. i think| sometimes i would want to timing of lockdown. i think- sometimes i would want to push and he might not and sometimes he was right and sometimes i think we should have gone earlier. this was an occasion when i think it is clear we should have gone earlier. mani; we should have gone earlier. many restrictions were _ we should have gone earlier. many restrictions were lifted _ we should have gone earlier. many restrictions were lifted in - we should have gone earlier. many restrictions were lifted in the summer will stop people were back on the beaches. but by september virus infections were rising rapidly again. infections were rising rapidly aaain. ., ., ., . again. tonight at ten, more evidence the coronavirus _ again. tonight at ten, more evidence the coronavirus pandemic _ again. tonight at ten, more evidence the coronavirus pandemic in - again. tonight at ten, more evidence the coronavirus pandemic in the - again. tonight at ten, more evidence the coronavirus pandemic in the uk l the coronavirus pandemic in the uk is growing — the coronavirus pandemic in the uk is growing again. the coronavirus pandemic in the uk is growing again-— is growing again. a regional tiered s stem is growing again. a regional tiered system was _ is growing again. a regional tiered system was introduced _ is growing again. a regional tiered system was introduced in - is growing again. a regional tiered system was introduced in england | is growing again. a regional tiered - system was introduced in england and sir patrick vallance said it wasn't effective. , ~ . effective. every mp argued their area should _ effective. every mp argued their area should not _ effective. every mp argued their area should not be _ effective. every mp argued their area should not be in _ effective. every mp argued their area should not be in a - effective. every mp argued their area should not be in a higher. effective. every mp argued their i area should not be in a higher tier, they should be in a lower tier, so everyone is arguing to do things just a little bit less than they should be doing. he just a little bit less than they should be doing.— just a little bit less than they should be doing. just a little bit less than they should be doinr. ., . ., should be doing. he made clear he didn't like the — should be doing. he made clear he didn't like the way _ should be doing. he made clear he didn't like the way ministers - should be doing. he made clear he didn't like the way ministers usedl didn't like the way ministers used the phrase "following the signs" as it was always evolving. tomorrow it is sir chris whitty�*s turn to give evidence and on wednesday said jonathan van—tham and in the new year the inquiry moves to edinburgh, cardiff and belfast to scrutinise decisions made there during the pandemic. sophie. whew, thank you. the prime minister has boosted tax cuts to bicester economy growth ahead of the chancellor's autumn statement on wednesday. rishi sunak said he was able to move on to the next phase of the government's economic plan after inflation fell to ir.6% last month. our economics editor faisal islam is here. what are you expecting on wednesday? we had long expected tax cuts on wednesday to boost investment to jump—start a currently not growing economy but what the prime minister hinted at, more than hinted at, pretty much confirmed, that the tax cuts would be wider, affecting people at home to some degree. that's because he thinks inflation has fallen so sharply that the big problem to solve is not necessarily inflation but it is growth. where can you get the sort of tax cuts that will boost the economy and not affect inflation? the sorts of areas where you can boost the supply of workers or worker hours. there are various inconsistencies in the tax system you could iron out to incentivise people to work longer. there is the possibility of a national insurance cut. if the turning point is here, which you would expect to see in the official forecasts, but are also published on wednesday. thank you. the former prime minister, david cameron, has taken his seat in the house of lords following his surprise appointment as foreign secretary last week. i. i, david, lord cameron of chipping norton, do swear by almighty god... his new title reflects his long ties to the cotswolds town in his former constituency of witney. lord cameron has been elevated to the lords to allow him to service in the cabinet after he resigned as an mp in 2016. a group of premature babies who were evacuated from the al shifa hospital in gaza city have been taken into egypt — for medical treatment. the babies were taken via the rafah crossing — here — which connects gaza with egypt. the hamas—run health ministry in gaza says at least 12 people have been killed in an israeli strike on another hospital the north of gaza — the indonesian hospital. the hospital's director said tanks were operating close by. meanwhile negotiations are continuing for a deal that could free some of the hostages held by hamas — which is designated a terrorist organisation by the uk government. this afternoon, the us president joe biden said he believed a hostage deal is near. our senior international correspondent orla guerin reports from jerusalem. a tiny baby from gaza, now safe in egypt, straight into a waiting incubator. 28 premature babies have been transferred here. desperately vulnerable still but beyond the reach of war, unlike abouti million children who remain in gaza. night and day they are at risk. here, more wounded children being brought in. palestinians say they are victims of an israeli air strike on residential buildings. gunfire and here, israeli tanks near gaza's indonesian hospital where 12 people were reported killed. the army says troops came under fire from within the hospital and fired back at the enemy. in israel, families with loved ones held in gaza are daring to hope there will be a deal to free at least some of them. this was the moment on october the 7th when some hostages were dragged away from their homes, barefoot and in terror. his cousin was among them. this their homes, barefoot and in terror. his cousin was among them.- his cousin was among them. this is my cousin. — his cousin was among them. this is my cousin. 39 _ his cousin was among them. this is my cousin, 39 years _ his cousin was among them. this is my cousin, 39 years old, _ his cousin was among them. this is my cousin, 39 years old, she - his cousin was among them. this is my cousin, 39 years old, she is - his cousin was among them. this is my cousin, 39 years old, she is an i my cousin, 39 years old, she is an occupational therapist, she loves travelling, she loves music, she is wonderful. travelling, she loves music, she is wonderful-— travelling, she loves music, she is wonderful. she is being held along with her sister-in-iaw _ wonderful. she is being held along with her sister-in-iaw who - with her sister—in—law who three—year—old keeps asking when she's coming home. three-year-old keeps asking when she's coming home.— three-year-old keeps asking when she's coming home. hamas doesn't rive us she's coming home. hamas doesn't give us any — she's coming home. hamas doesn't give us any signs — she's coming home. hamas doesn't give us any signs of— she's coming home. hamas doesn't give us any signs of life, _ she's coming home. hamas doesn't give us any signs of life, we - she's coming home. hamas doesn't give us any signs of life, we don't i give us any signs of life, we don't even know whether my cousin and her sister—in—law are alive or not. there has been a lot of positive indications in the last few days. are you hopeful now, are you cautious, what is your mood? yes, i'm hopeful, iam hopeful, ithinki will see them again. i i'm hopeful, i am hopeful, ithinki will see them again.— will see them again. i think we should be _ will see them again. i think we should be hopeful— will see them again. i think we should be hopeful and - will see them again. i think we should be hopeful and i- will see them again. i think we i should be hopeful and i think this is the only way we can get up in the morning and start our day. you know, our lives just stopped october seven. our lives 'ust stopped october seven. ., . ., , ._ seven. the deal, if it comes, it may only secured _ seven. the deal, if it comes, it may only secured the _ seven. the deal, if it comes, it may only secured the relief _ seven. the deal, if it comes, it may only secured the relief of _ seven. the deal, if it comes, it may only secured the relief of a - seven. the deal, if it comes, it may only secured the relief of a few - only secured the relief of a few dozen women and children. for many families the tournament will go on. —— torment. tonight there are still nothing official about a deal to free the hostages. we do know that around now some of the hostage families are meeting israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu. we have no outcome yet from that meeting. but of course we have had a positive line today from the us presidentjoe biden, saying he believed a deal was close. the families have been campaigning around the clock for six weeks. we understand that if the deal comes it will be for the release of about 50 israeli women and children. they would be freed over a number of days, 4—5 days during which there would be a pause in the israeli campaign in gaza and food would be allowed in. people waiting for this deal in israel, palestinians in gaza are also waiting for this deal hoping for a pause in israel's offensive. here, some of the parents of the hostages being held by hamas in gaza, have been describing their nightmare in a press conference in london. they say they have kept in the dark over the fate of their children, and demanded their safe return. here's our special correspondent lucy manning as their children are held hostage, they hold on to each other. this 28—year—old and this 21—year—old and nine—year—old. yotam was kidnapped from his home. fig