IN LAST week’s column, I referred to the Government’s recent International Investment Summit, a key commitment for its first 100 days.

Held at Guildhall, London, the summit brought together 300 leaders from around the world across technology, industry and investment.

I was very pleased to attend the summit as part of the ministerial team representing the Government at the event. My involvement included meeting global business leaders, chairing panels and helping make our case that Britain is back and open for business.

It was a message that was well received by those in attendance and I am delighted that it secured a record-breaking £63 billion investment and nearly 38,000 jobs across the UK.

Through serious, stable governance, the UK is attracting tens of billions of pounds of new investment which is crucial to the Government’s driving mission of delivering economic growth. The historic figure secured at the summit demonstrates that businesses have confidence in Britain as a place to invest. Growth matters not just because it means more and better-paid jobs but because a stronger economy is also the surest foundation for stronger public services.

But, while the summit was an outstanding success, it is vital that work on investment and growth is a continuous, year-round effort. That is why the Government is delivering an industrial strategy that will give businesses the confidence they need to plan for the next 10 years and beyond. At its heart will be the new Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, led by Microsoft UK CEO Clare Barclay. This will help to underpin and advance our ambition to deliver higher levels of economic growth.

Finally, I want to pay tribute to Alex Salmond following his recent untimely death. He was without doubt one of the most consequential and capable figures in Scottish public life over recent decades. My deepest sympathies go to Moira, his family and to his many friends and supporters.