Boris Johnson ‘bamboozled’ by science and Matt Hancock had habit of saying things that were untrue, UK Covid inquiry hears – as it happened

6.01pm GMT

Early evening summary

• Rishi Sunak would almost certainly have known scientists were worried about his “eat out to help out” scheme during the pandemic, Sir Patrick Vallance has said, directly contradicting the prime minister’s evidence to the Covid inquiry. My colleague Peter Walker has a summary of the main points from Vallance’s evidence.

The inquiry has just published Vallance’s 241-page witness statement on its website. It includes this nugget. (The CMO is the chief medical officer, Prof Sir Chris Whitty.)

Extract from Sir Patrick Vallance’s witness statement to Covid inquiry. Photograph: Covid inquiry

• Rishi Sunak has hinted at business tax cuts to boost economic growth as he promised to reduce the tax burden “carefully and sustainably” and “over time”.

• China’s growing role in international development marks a systemic global shift that will require robust challenge by Britain if its interests are threatened, a UK government white paper on aid has warned.

• Michael Gove, the levelling up secretary, has identified 55 projects across the UK that will get funding worth a total of £1bn from the levelling up fund. The full list of projects from the fund’s round 3 allocation is here.

• The UK trade secretary, Kemi Badenoch, has been accused of quietly killing off a funding stream for small businesses that had helped fashion brands such as Paul Smith and Vivienne Westwood launch their products at global trade fairs.

David Cameron (left) welcoming the Austrian foreign minister, Alexander Schallenberg, to the Foreign Office today. Photograph: Paul Grover/Daily Telegraph/PA

Updated at 6.17pm GMT

5.57pm GMT

Despite reports that 11th hour consideration is being given to a range of ideas, the key points of what Jeremy Hunt will unveil on Wednesday was finalised last week, Conservative MPs believe.

Those from the party’s centrist wing are also feeling confident. One said:

People would be concerned if we were pursing things for what are essentially ideological reasons which, as we saw earlier this year, can have unintended consequences. The good news is that is not Rishi Sunak or Jeremy Hunt’s style.

We’re keenly aware that we have been through a period that damaged the party’s reputation for economic competence, so steadying the ship is really important.

The One Nation Caucus, which represents 106 Tory MPs, published a report today making a case for how the autumn statement could reclaim undecided voters by calling for greater aid for first-time homebuyers and simplifying tax rates to create a new lower top rate

Updated at 6.16pm GMT