Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his assessment is of compliance with the ceasefire byparamilitaries since his statement of 24 July. [74016]Jane Kennedy: Ceasefires, however defined, are not by themselves enough to sustain confidence in the process. The transition fromviolence to democracy must be completed. There is no authority, legitimacy or political basis for anyone to have recourse toviolence or paramilitary activity. All paramilitary groups must now decide whether they are committed to exclusively democratic andnon-violent means.