Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what human rights safeguards are in place to protect vulnerable people from wrongful deportation under the 'one-in, one-out' scheme; and what assessment they have made of how that scheme complies with the UK's obligations under international law.

The UK - France Agreement is set out in an international treaty and is deemed to be fully compliant with international law, including the Refugee Convention.

Individuals who arrive in the UK via small boat may be detained on arrival under immigration powers pending examination and removal.

In accordance with statutory and international obligations and as part of inadmissibility action, individuals in scope for removal under the treaty are able to make representations regarding matters which may be relevant to an inadmissibility declaration and removal from the UK to France. Case-by-case consideration will be given to any claimed individual circumstances that mean France would not be safe in any particular case, including any vulnerabilities.

Any referrals from individuals who may be victims of modern slavery are carefully considered in line with the relevant statutory and international obligations. Where they are not judged to be a victim of modern slavery and require permission to stay in the UK, their protection claim can then be considered for inadmissible action and the individual considered for return to France.

Where an individual is detained, the suitability of ongoing detention is regularly reviewed, and where there is no legal barrier removal will proceed.

We will continue to work with French authorities to ensure swift, lawful processing under the Agreement and to maintain public safety; and are continuously monitoring and evaluating our pilot, alongside the procedures in place to deliver it.