'One in, one out' scheme costs £56,000 per person returned
The UK's 'one in, one out' migrant return deal with France costs £56,000 per person and has been extended until October.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The 'one in, one out' scheme costs £56,000 per person returned to France.
- About 1,400 people have been deported under the scheme since August 2025.
- Small boat arrivals decreased by 44% to 17,425 this year.
The UK home secretary has revealed that the controversial "one in, one out" migrant returns agreement with France costs approximately £56,000 per person returned. This figure exceeds the Home Office's estimated average cost for enforced migrant returns, which stands at £48,800.
The deal permits the UK to send back certain small boat arrivals while agreeing to admit an equal number of individuals from France who possess legitimate claims to enter Britain. According to official figures, the total number of deportations under this framework since its inception in August 2025 has reached approximately 1,400.
Responding to Conservative MP Robbie Moore regarding the success of the policy, the home secretary defended the initiative by stating that on its own terms, proving the concept that such an arrangement is viable and operational was successful. However, she conceded that it has faced challenges, noting that the overall numbers remain relatively low and scaling up large weekly removals into the French system has proved operationally difficult.
"On its own terms, can you prove the concept that such a deal is viable, that you can get returns off and up and running - yes."
Home Secretary
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
She added that the United Nations and other agencies have reported instances where migrants opted against boarding small boats due to the possibility of acceptance under the "one in, one out" framework. Originally scheduled to conclude in June 2026, the agreement has now been extended through October.
The 'one in, one out' scheme represents a critical bilateral effort between the UK and France to address irregular channel crossings. While critics highlight the high per-capita expense, policymakers view it as a necessary framework to foster cooperation with transit nations and complement broader law enforcement crackdowns against trafficking gangs.
Regarding overall migration trends, official data indicates that 17,425 people arrived in the UK via small boats between 1 January and 14 September 2026, marking a 44% decline compared to the same period in the previous year. The National Crime Agency attributed this reduction primarily to law enforcement efforts and disruptions in small boat supply chains linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
Source: BBC Politics
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