Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's news story entitled First illegal migrants returned under new UK-France agreement, published on 18 September, what was the cost of each flight.

The Home Office has made returns under the new UK-France agreement utilising both charter flights and regular scheduled flights. This approach allows the Home Office to maximise value for money and best satisfy operational requirements.

We do not comment on individual charter flight costs as these are commercially sensitive arrangements that can provide an insight into pricing structure. To do otherwise could deter the private sector from entering into contracts with the Home Office.