DIVIDENDS ON ORDINARY SHARES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Dividend award [Member]

DIVIDENDS ON ORDINARY SHARES (Tables) [Line Items]

Disclosure of Dividends On Ordinary Shares [Text Block]

Dividends paid during the year were as follows:

	2017 pence per share		2016 pence per share		2015 pence per share		2017 £m		2016 £m		2015 £m
Recommended by directors at previous year end:
Final dividend		1.70		1.50		0.75		1,212		1,070		535
Special dividend		0.50		0.50		–		356		357		–
Interim dividend paid in the year		1.00		0.85		0.75		720		607		535
		3.20		2.85		1.50		2,288		2,034		1,070