Peers are expected to mull the Rwanda Bill on Tuesday and could then send it back to the Commons with amendments later in the week, prolonging the process known as parliamentary ping-pong where legislation is batted between the two Houses.

Once passed, it is expected to take a minimum of six weeks for the first migrants to be readied for deportation to Kigali, as there are several legal and practical obstacles to overcome.

Speaking in the Commons, Conservative MP Sir Bill Cash said: “The real question now is, let’s get this Bill done, let’s get the House of Lords to calm down a bit, let us also at the same time wait for what is inevitably going to be another claim and then see what the judgment of the Supreme Court is on the wording – providing it is clear and unambiguous – of this Bill.

“That is all I need to say, I may come back again however if there is another insistence by the Lords on these ridiculous amendments.”

Senior Tory Sir John Hayes told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Of course, it’s right that there is a balance between Commons and Lords and indeed between Parliament and the executive but when a government devises and wants to implement a policy which is clear and precise in terms of its objectives, the Lords shouldn’t stand in its way.

“I think in the end the Lords will give way on this because they recognise that balance.”

Home Office permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft, whilst appearing before the Public Accounts Committee, admitted only a “tiny number” of countries were suitable for a Rwanda-style scheme.

He told MPs: “A lot have been assessed and a tiny number are into the next stages of work.”

The Government wants to replicate the Rwanda scheme with Armenia, Ivory Coast, Costa Rica and Botswana, it emerged on Monday.

Cape Verde, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Angola and Sierra Leone were put on a reserve list that would be approached if other targets failed, The Times reported.

All four of the proposed deals with Armenia, Ivory Coast, Costa Rica and Botswana have been put on hold whilst the Government scrambles to get flights off the ground to Kigali.

But talks could restart once flights to Rwanda begin taking off.

Appearing before MPs, Mr Rycroft indicated officials were seeking a drop in migrant crossings of about 10,000 people once the policy was in force in order to consider it value for money.

The Home Office said 534 migrants were recorded crossing the Channel on Sunday in 10 boats. This is the highest daily total on record since the start of the year and suggests there was an average of around 53 people on each boat.

The latest crossings take the provisional total for the year so far to 6,265 – 28% higher than this time last year (4,899) and 7% higher than the 5,828 recorded at this point in 2022.

Asked for Rishi Sunak‘s message to the House of Lords, his spokesman said: “This week Parliament has the opportunity to pass a Bill that will save the lives of those being exploited by people-smuggling gangs.

“It is clear that we cannot continue with the status quo which is unfair and uncompassionate. Now is the time to change the equation against gangs and unite behind the Bill.”

Pressed on whether ministers will make concessions on Lords amendments, the official said: “We’ve always been clear that the Bill as previously passed by the House of Commons is the right Bill to get flights off the ground.”