SHARE CAPITAL (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Disclosure of issued capital [text block] [Abstract]

Disclosure of classes of share capital [text block]

	2018 Number of shares			2017 Number of shares			2016 Number of shares		2018 £m			2017 £m			2016 £m
Ordinary shares of 10p (formerly 25p) each
At 1 January		71,972,949,589			71,373,735,357			71,373,735,357		7,197			7,138			7,138
Issued under employee share schemes		768,551,098			518,293,181			–		77			51			–
Share buy-back programme (note 41)		(1,577,908,423	)		–			–		(158	)		–			–
Redesignation of limited voting ordinary shares (see below)		–			80,921,051			–		–			8			–
At 31 December		71,163,592,264			71,972,949,589			71,373,735,357		7,116			7,197			7,138
Limited voting ordinary shares of 10p (formerly 25p) each
At 1 January		–			80,921,051			80,921,051		–			8			8
Redesignation to ordinary shares (see below)		–			(80,921,051	)		–		–			(8	)		–
At 31 December		–			–			80,921,051		–			–			8
Total issued share capital										7,116			7,197			7,146