It beggars belief

Perhaps venturing into non PC territory, but why does Edinburgh have a) so many (any) eastern european beggars, and b) lassies with long legs exposed when it's so effing cold? Unrelated questions, I know.
I was going to snap all the beggars I came across today as I meandered central Embra, but I refrained, as there were just too many. Gangmeisters in hiding?

Actually snapped more litter and bagged rubbish lying about un-collected, than beggars. Presumably we can't afford scaffys due to the trams fiasco!

Capital city?