The UK government has provided new data regarding the financial and operational status of its 'one in, one out' return scheme. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed that the cost associated with returning a single individual to France under this policy is approximately £56,000.

In her assessment of the program, Mahmood described the initiative as 'difficult' to scale up effectively. She noted that the total number of people processed through the scheme remains 'relatively small' at this stage. The policy, which aims to balance incoming migration with outgoing returns, has been a subject of scrutiny regarding its efficiency and overall impact on border management.

While the Home Secretary provided the cost figures, the report did not elaborate on the specific logistical or diplomatic hurdles preventing the scheme from reaching a larger scale. The government's current stance emphasizes the complexity of the process, though critics of the policy often point to the high per-person cost as evidence of inefficiency. Conversely, proponents argue that the scheme is a necessary tool for maintaining border integrity despite the high price tag. The data highlights a significant gap between the government's ambitions for the program and the practical realities of its implementation.