The income-transfer programmes link up to form a rudimentary safety net.

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On item 1: There is a big difference between a safety net that prevents starvation and homelessness and income transfer programs that provide middle-class comforts to people who for whatever reason did not earn them in the private economy.

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U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who spoke with Mr. Karzai about the agreement on Saturday, welcomed what he called the Afghan leader's "commitment that the transfer will be carried out in a way that ensures the safety of the Afghan people and coalition forces by keeping dangerous individuals detained, " Pentagon spokesman George Little said.

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Messrs Paterson and Gordon also raise concerns that the transfer from Whitehall to Scotland of regulation, licensing, inspection and safety is a major undertaking, particularly in a mature region for oil and gas, with ageing equipment, hard-to-reach reserves and a looming boom in decommissioning.

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