Environment Secretary Steve Barclay insists the Elgin Marbles row is “long resolved” and does not need to be relitigated. It comes as Rishi Sunak cancelled a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in London, after he spoke out about the marbles – known as the Parthenon Sculptures – which he wants returned to Athens from the British Museum. Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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00:00 The issue with the Elgin Marbles is it's been long resolved.
00:03 We don't need to re-litigate it.
00:05 There's actually an Act of Parliament
00:07 in terms of the British Museum that is in place.
00:10 So I think there's more important issues
00:12 for us to focus on.
00:13 For me as Environment Secretary,
00:15 that is how we restore our natural environment,
00:18 invest in our countryside,
00:20 make it easier for people to access the countryside.
00:24 And today's announcements,
00:25 £25 million into 34 landscape schemes,
00:29 £8 million for two new community forests,
00:32 beginning a process for a new national park,
00:36 which is something we celebrate in the UK
00:39 in terms of our national parks,
00:40 having an additional national park,
00:42 I think is a really positive announcement.
00:45 And I know the environment matters to lots of people,
00:48 as it does me.
00:49 And so that investment in our natural heritage
00:52 is really positive and good to see.