SHARE CAPITAL (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Disclosure of issued capital [text block] [Abstract]

Disclosure of classes of share capital [text block]

	2017 Number of shares			2016 Number of shares		2015 Number of shares		2017 £m			2016  £m		2015 £m
Ordinary shares of 10p (formerly 25p) each
At 1 January		71,373,735,357			71,373,735,357		71,373,735,357		7,138			7,138		7,138
Issued under employee share schemes		518,293,181			–		–		51			–		–
Redesignation of limited voting ordinary shares (see below)		80,921,051			–		–		8			–		–
At 31 December		71,972,949,589			71,373,735,357		71,373,735,357		7,197			7,138		7,138
Limited voting ordinary shares of 10p (formerly 25p) each
At 1 January		80,921,051			80,921,051		80,921,051		8			8		8
Redesignation to ordinary shares (see below)		(80,921,051	)		–		–		(8	)		–		–
At 31 December		–			80,921,051		80,921,051		–			8		8
Total issued share capital									7,197			7,146		7,146