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The business chief whose ­comments sparked a national debate on begging has vowed to take to the streets and meet those affected.

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stuart Patrick caused ­controversy when he urged people to stop giving cash to beggars.

But following our probe into the extent of street begging, Patrick said he was prepared to meet those directly involved.

He will be accompanied on a tour of the Glasgow’s centre by a campaigning MSP.

Earlier this month, Patrick cited a report that suggested shoppers were deserting city centres after being put off by constant requests for a handout.

And he pointed to a significant rise in begging and rough sleeping in Scotland’s biggest city.

But the business expert said: “I’ve accepted an invitation from Glasgow MSP Ivan McKee to spend time on the streets with him and talk to those affected, with a view to finding out what more can be done.

“Our comments on begging in Glasgow are a response to the recent report - published by Community Safety Glasgow and reflect concerns that have been raised by our members for some time.

“We know this is a highly sensitive issue for Chamber members, who are caught between two concerns – their natural human reaction to struggling fellow ­citizens and the damaging impact on their business. Over a third of businesses polled by CSG believe that begging has a serious impact on their livelihood.

“A survey of customers backed up that concern, with a similar proportion feeling affected significantly by the presence of begging.

“So around a third of both businesses and the general public have a strongly negative reaction.

“We’re firmly committed to working with the authorities and with the many charitable and third sector bodies attempting to tackle the issue.

“What’s important is that the issue is kept on the public agenda for the sake of the people affected in our city centres, both those who are working hard to build their businesses and those who are ­begging on the streets.”

McKee said: “Since being elected, street begging and homelessness are issues I’ve tried to understand and tackle.

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“I’ve taken the time to talk to men and women sleeping rough – both at shelters and on the streets.

“It’s a complex area. Addiction, ­ mental health, relationship ­breakdown, job loss and prison time often form part of the personal story.

“However, it’s an issue that we can, and must, try to resolve.

“Stuart is a man I know is passionate about Glasgow. It’s very positive to hear he’s now engaging with homeless charities to better understand the issue and that he’ll spend an evening with me on the streets with one of the groups who do outreach work with the homeless.

“We want to engage the innovation and financial muscle of the business ­community to combine with city ­government and voluntary agencies to fix this problem once and for all.”

Stuart had claimed earlier this month that people who begged outside shops, cinemas and restaurants harmed the inner-city economy and pushed people to visit retail centres on the outskirts.

The report by council arm’s-length ­organisation Community Safety Glasgow said there were more than 800 recorded cases of begging in the city centre in the past year.

The most ­common locations were Gordon Street, Union Street, Royal Exchange Square and the main shopping areas of Argyle Street, Buchanan Street and ­Sauchiehall Street.

Eileen Marshall, the director of CSG, said ­begging was “a response to poverty, not a lifestyle choice”.

Charity Shelter Scotland said they had recorded a 46 per cent rise in the number of people at risk of sleeping rough. Agencies and charities in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee also reported a sharp increase in street begging, with some of the increase being attributed to cuts in social care and mental health services.

In Edinburgh, Princes Street, the Royal Mile, the Old Town, the bridges and George Street were frequented, while Union Street in Aberdeen and Overgate shopping ­centre in Dundee were also places where beggars and rough sleepers congregated.

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City ­Council said: “We’re working to research the many complex causes of begging in the city centre.

“It’s undoubtedly the case that many people who beg are ­vulnerable and our aim is to determine how best to get people to accept the help on offer.

“Food, shelter and medical advice are all available. We work with statutory and voluntary groups to support those who are begging, and may have chaotic lifestyles and addiction issues, to take up that assistance.”