SHARE CAPITAL (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Disclosure of issued capital [text block] [Abstract]

Disclosure of classes of share capital [text block]

	2019 Number of shares			2018 Number of shares			2017 Number of shares			2019 £m			2018 £m			2017 £m
Ordinary shares of 10p (formerly 25p) each
At 1 January		71,163,592,264			71,972,949,589			71,373,735,357			7,116			7,197			7,138
Issued under employee share schemes		775,882,951			768,551,098			518,293,181			78			77			51
Share buyback programme (note 42)		(1,886,917,377	)		(1,577,908,423	)		–			(189	)		(158	)		–
Redesignation of limited voting ordinary shares (see below)		–			–			80,921,051			–			–			8
At 31 December		70,052,557,838			71,163,592,264			71,972,949,589			7,005			7,116			7,197
Limited voting ordinary shares of 10p (formerly 25p) each
At 1 January		–			–			80,921,051			–			–			8
Redesignation to ordinary shares		–			–			(80,921,051	)		–			–			(8	)
At 31 December		–			–			–			–			–			–
Total issued share capital											7,005			7,116			7,197