Retirement benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - Life Expectancy Assumptions at Retirement Age (Detail) - Plan [member]		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
United Kingdom [member] | Current pensioners at 65 - male [member]
Disclosure Of Forecast Life Expectancies [line items]
Actuarial assumption of life expectancy after retirement	[1]	24 years	24 years	24 years
United Kingdom [member] | Current pensioners at 65 - female [member]
Disclosure Of Forecast Life Expectancies [line items]
Actuarial assumption of life expectancy after retirement	[1]	26 years	26 years	26 years
United Kingdom [member] | Future pensioners at 65 - male [member]
Disclosure Of Forecast Life Expectancies [line items]
Actuarial assumption of life expectancy after retirement	[2]	25 years	25 years	25 years
United Kingdom [member] | Future pensioners at 65 - female [member]
Disclosure Of Forecast Life Expectancies [line items]
Actuarial assumption of life expectancy after retirement	[2]	28 years	28 years	28 years
United States [member] | Current pensioners at 65 - male [member]
Disclosure Of Forecast Life Expectancies [line items]
Actuarial assumption of life expectancy after retirement	[1]	22 years	22 years	21 years
United States [member] | Current pensioners at 65 - female [member]
Disclosure Of Forecast Life Expectancies [line items]
Actuarial assumption of life expectancy after retirement	[1]	23 years	23 years	23 years
United States [member] | Future pensioners at 65 - male [member]
Disclosure Of Forecast Life Expectancies [line items]
Actuarial assumption of life expectancy after retirement	[2]	23 years	23 years	22 years
United States [member] | Future pensioners at 65 - female [member]
Disclosure Of Forecast Life Expectancies [line items]
Actuarial assumption of life expectancy after retirement	[2]	25 years	24 years	24 years

[1] Relates to assumptions based on longevity (in years) following retirement at the end of the reporting period.

[2] Relates to assumptions based on longevity (in years) relating to an employee retiring in 2041.