Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 27 of the report, Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain 2017, published by his Department on 19 July 2018 on the use of an neuromuscular blocking agent which did not also include a general anaesthetic, which species of animal was involved; and what procedures were conducted with that agent.

Neuromuscular blocking agents were licensed for use, without general anaesthetic, for basic research on zebra fish fry for the purposes of research into the functioning of the nervous system. The procedures authorised were non-invasive imaging. The procedures are not painful, and although at this stage the fry do not need to move for respiration, they are kept in water while being imaged.

The neuromuscular blockers ensure that swimming movements do not interfere with the highly sophisticated imaging of their nervous systems

This work was licensed following a robust Harm Benefit Analysis, consistent with the requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.