With regard to the first part of the question, the chief petty officers in H.M.S. "Vernon" are messed separately. With regard to the second part, the existing arrangements under which chief petty officers and petty officers have recreation, etc., rooms in common are in harmony with the views expressed by the representatives of the lower deck to the Welfare Committee, 1919–20. The chief petty officers of the "Vernon" did not express a wish for separate accommodation until the structural arrangements had proceeded too far to admit of alteration. With regard to the third part of the question, the Admiralty does not admit this principle, and Article 852, quoted by the hon. Member, distinctly states that, with certain exceptions, "chief petty officers are to be messed together or with the petty officers, as may be convenient."