The United Kingdom has returned 281 migrants to France so far under the pilot ‘‘one in, one out’’ agreement between London and Paris, the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has said.

The figure was disclosed on Tuesday as part of an update on the implementation of the bilateral scheme, which aims to deter people from crossing the English Channel to enter the UK illegally by small boats.

Ms Mahmood told LBC radio that around 350 people with strong asylum claims had been brought to the UK from France through the scheme’s approved legal route, compared with the 281 who had been removed to France.

She described the numbers as ‘‘relatively small’’ but said they were increasing as the pilot progressed and logistical arrangements improved.

Under the ‘‘one in, one out’’ agreement, individuals intercepted arriving in the UK on small boats may be detained and returned to France if they are deemed ineligible for asylum.

In return, the UK accepts the same number of asylum seekers from France who have not tried to enter the UK illegally and who satisfy eligibility and security checks.

This arrangement was agreed in July 2025 by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron and came into force in August that year.

The government views the scheme as part of broader efforts to manage small boat crossings, which reached 41,472 in 2025, the highest annual total since 2022. The Home Secretary acknowledged ‘‘practical issues’’ with detaining and removing individuals under the pilot, including the time required to identify and process eligible cases for removal and repatriation.

Downing Street said the numbers would fluctuate as the scheme continues and that initial phases focused on establishing operational capacity.

The returns deal operates alongside other UK and French measures aimed at disrupting people-smuggling networks and enhancing cooperation on border security.

Officials have stressed that removals are expected to increase over time as the pilot expands and administrative challenges are addressed.

The ‘‘one in, one out’’ arrangement represents the first formal mechanism between the UK and France specifically targeting irregular Channel crossings by balancing returns with safe and legal routes for asylum seekers who have not made dangerous journeys.

The migration partnership also includes provision for cooperation on intelligence sharing, law enforcement efforts against smuggling gangs and coordinated approaches to processing asylum claims, reflecting wider bilateral engagement on migration and border management.