RETAINED PROFITS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Retained earnings [member]

RETAINED PROFITS (Tables) [Line Items]

Disclosure Of Retained Earnings [text block]

	2017 £m			2016 £m			2015 £m
At 1 January		3,250			4,416			5,692
Profit for the year		3,807			2,063			860
Dividends paid1		(2,284	)		(2,014	)		(1,070	)
Distributions on other equity instruments (net of tax)		(313	)		(321	)		(314	)
Post-retirement defined benefit scheme remeasurements		482			(1,028	)		(215	)
Gains and losses attributable to own credit risk (net of tax)2		(40	)		–			–
Movement in treasury shares		(411	)		(175	)		(816	)
Value of employee services:
Share option schemes		82			141			107
Other employee award schemes		332			168			172
At 31 December		4,905			3,250			4,416

1	Net of a credit in respect of unclaimed dividends written-back in accordance with the Company’s Articles of Association.
2	During 2017 the Group derecognised, on redemption, financial liabilities on which cumulative fair value movements relating to own credit of £3 million (net of tax) had been recognised directly in retained profits.