Question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total cost to the public was of the UK-France One In, One Out pilot scheme; and whether she will publish a breakdown of those costs.
Answer
An internal assessment of the UK-France returns scheme is underway and will inform future plans to tackle illegal migration. This will be reviewed following closure of the UK-France scheme to assess impact and learning which can be taken forward. The aim of the UK’s arrangement with France is to stop small boat crossings, protect lives which are lost during these dangerous crossings, undermine the OCG business models and improve the UK’s border security. The arrangements operate under a bilateral treaty, which explicitly commits both countries to respecting the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights. Individual assessments are carried out prior to removal. Case-by-case considerations are given to any claimed individual circumstances that means France would not be safe in any particular case, including any vulnerabilities. Individuals also have access to the courts to challenge removal. Any referrals from individuals who may have been victims of modern slavery are carefully considered in line with the relevant statutory and international obligations. All individuals have their cases reviewed regularly in line with standard guidance, and this includes both while detained and if any claims of being a victim of torture or of human trafficking and modern slavery are raised. Detained individuals are advised of their right to legal representation, and how they can obtain such representation, within 24 hours of their arrival at an Immigration Removal Centre (IRC). We do not comment on costs as these are commercially sensitive arrangements. The Treaty ended on the 1 st October and operational activity will continue for the following weeks to remove those in detention back to France. As the pilot scheme winds down, learnings are being taken forward as the UK government explores innovative solutions to tackle the challenge of illegal migration.7% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (48/100)
The reply addresses both parts of the question, but it does not give the figures requested. It declines to state the total cost and says costs are not published because the arrangements are commercially sensitive, which is a clear and stated reason. Because the asker gets a refusal rather than a number or breakdown, they would likely need to press again for the specific information.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What was the total cost to the public of the UK-France One In, One Out pilot scheme? | Addressed | Direct | The reply directly declines to give the total cost and states a concrete reason (the arrangements are commercially sensitive), which is a complete answer to a request for a cost figure. |
| Will the Secretary of State publish a breakdown of the costs of the UK-France One In, One Out pilot scheme? | Addressed | Direct | The reply answers the publication question by saying costs are not commented on because they are commercially sensitive, which is a stated reason for not publishing a breakdown; the review of impact and learning in statement 2 does not address costs but does not undermine the refusal. |