Your editorial (Northern Ireland isn’t likely to reach a consensus any time soon, 27 March) is more the pity.

There is, however, a major opportunity for Sinn Fein and the Republic of Ireland to launch a charm offensive emphasising how violence is now finally, permanently consigned to history and that reunification has huge benefits for all – not least escaping the Tories and staying in the EU.

That hard-line unionists find it almost impossible to unclench is no surprise but if enough of the unionist side are offered a positive and welcoming prospect then a resolution could occur. Neither side has been able to cudgel the other into submission. Violence, vitriol, hatred and mutual distrust have brought only a savagely bitter harvest. The sincere offer of a warm, safe welcome into a reunited Ireland could be the ace in Sinn Fein’s hand. Being nice to people often pays dividends, especially where it replaces intransigence and malice.

Steve Ford

Haydon Bridge

Stormont

Now that Northern Ireland politicians have shown that they have no further use for the building, I wonder if it would be possible to have the graceful Stormont House dismantled and re-erected in Edinburgh as a welcome replacement for the dismal concrete shed that currently houses the Scottish Parliament.

If May were to facilitate this, I feel sure that MSPs would demonstrate Scotland’s gratitude by abandoning any call for a second independence referendum.

John Eoin Douglas

Edinburgh

Some things to clear up before Article 50 is triggered

What happens if May’s letter invoking Article 50 is returned marked “Return to sender – insufficient postage”?

Philip Morgan

Carmarthenshire

Let me get this straight. There may be no financial saving accruing to the UK as a result of Brexit. The costs to the public purse of re-establishing decades of procedures and laws will be huge. Parliamentary business not connected with Brexit will receive only secondary attention while the negotiations take place. It is not certain that immigration will fall. Many key workers in public services, leisure and catering are likely to leave the country. Essential cross-border crime-fighting initiatives will be jeopardised. Severe doubt surrounds the future funding of science and the arts and farming subsidies. Prices are likely to rise on many goods. The union with Scotland may break up. Tensions along the Ireland/Northern Ireland border may flare up. We may lose our seat at the UN Security Council. The entire project is being pushed through by an unelected Prime Minister who herself campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU.

And all so that some of the electorate can feel a greater sense of “sovereignty”? OK. Just want to be clear.

Richard Walker

Malvern

Hitting them where it hurts

Do penalties (BT, Tesco) have any effect, asked James Moore (BT gets record fine, Tesco has a big one coming, but are these penalties effective?, 27 March). Well, not really but he does hint at a possible solution.

What needs to be done, as with companies who do not adequately fund agreed pension schemes, is for the regulator, where these circumstances have arisen, to ban payment of executive bonuses and dividends to shareholders until the regulator is satisfied that failings have been remedied.

Hitting the owners of the businesses​ and the decision makers directly in their pockets should change their behaviours!

Tony McMahon

West Sussex

World Autism Awareness Week

This week marks World Autism Awareness Week, when campaigners will seek to raise further awareness of the condition and improve the lives of those affected by it.

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others. It is also much more common than most people think. There are around 700,000 people in the UK living with autism – that's more than one in 100.

Awareness raising, such as through World Autism Awareness Week, is to be welcomed as more and more people gain a better understanding of the condition and how we can support children and young people with autism.

However, there is much work still to be done. We are concerned, like many, at the level of cutbacks in services supporting those with autism, and while as an organisation we support a presumption to mainstream – that those with additional support needs such as autism be taught in mainstream classes – we have raised our worries over the amount of training and resources dedicated to this.

Teaching in as mainstream class may also not be right for every child, the alternative being to teach such pupils in specialist units within mainstream schools or in dedicated specialist schools. Ultimately the focus must be on the needs of the child or young person concerned.

So, whether it's a walk or cycle, a cake sale, a quiz or other challenge, use this week to make it a better world for autistic people.

The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition

Tom McGhee, managing director, Spark of Genius

Duncan Dunlop, chief executive, Who Cares? Scotland

Sophie Pilgrim, director, Kindred Scotland

Stuart Jacob, director, Falkland House School

Niall Kelly, managing director, Young Foundations

Liz May, national coordinator, Action for Sick Children Scotland

Supermarkets have a responsibility toward their customers’ health

Yesterday the Commons Health Select Committee released a report admonishing the Government’s plans to fight obesity, claiming that proposed measures do not go far enough to tackle the crisis. The committee argued that ministers had ignored recommendations from health bodies to regulate price promotions of unhealthy food and drinks aimed at children.

Research from Oliver Wyman shows that 81 per cent of UK shoppers have noticed that sugary products are more often on promotion in their supermarket than healthy options. Sixty per cent of consumers say it is their supermarket’s responsibility to help them be healthier.

Rather than waiting for the regulatory hammer to fall, supermarkets in the UK should redefine themselves as health and wellbeing brands, by simplifying choices and building customer loyalty through healthy living programmes.

By showing customers how their activity and shopping habits feed in to their health outcomes and helping them make informed decisions and trade-offs, supermarkets can influence habits in a way that is positive for their business while also delivering health benefits.

Duncan Brewer