Deportations under the Government's "one in, one out" deal with France will take place "as soon as possible", justice minister Alex Davies-Jones has said. This comes after a planned flight on Monday was reportedly cancelled following a legal challenge.
Davies-Jones said she would not give a "running commentary" on deportations, saying this would give people-smuggling gangs "exactly what they want". She declined to say when future deportations would occur or whether asylum seekers due to arrive from France would still fly to the UK this week.
According to The Times and Telegraph, a small group of migrants were removed from an Air France flight due to travel from Heathrow to Paris. The flight went ahead without any migrants on board, The Times reported, and was one of several throughout the week on which the Home Office has booked seats for migrants.
Minister cites security concerns
Asked why she would not comment on timing, Davies-Jones told Times Radio: "If I was to break down with you exactly a time-by-time, day-by-day movement on our returns policy, then that would be giving these abhorrent people-smugglers exactly what they want." She said this would allow smuggling gangs to know what the Government is doing and "they would be able to respond to that".
A Government source said the first deportation flights under the deal with France are expected to take place this week. The minister emphasised the Government would not be "doing them any favours" by revealing operational details.
Background to UK-France scheme
The pilot scheme was agreed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Labour) and French President Emmanuel Macron in July. It will see the UK send back to France asylum seekers who have crossed the Channel, in exchange for those who apply and are approved to come to Britain.
France has reportedly said they will only accept a small initial contingent of deportations. The UK hopes to increase numbers over the course of the scheme in an effort to stop small boat crossings in the Channel.
Some 31,026 people have made the journey so far this year, putting 2025 on course to be a record year for crossings.
Sources used: "The Times", "Telegraph", "Times Radio" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
