Retirement benefit obligations (Tables)
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12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2025 |
| Disclosure of employee benefits [Abstract] |
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| Schedule of - Retirement Benefit Charges to Income Statement, Analysis of Defined Benefit Obligation, Pooled Investment Vehicles, Assumptions Used in Valuation, Member Life Expectancy, Alternative Valuation Assumptions Used, Weighted Average Duration of Defined Benefit Obligations, Maturity Analysis of Benefits To Be Paid and Other Movements |
| | | | | | | | Charge (credit) to the income statement | | | | Defined benefit pension schemes | | | | Other retirement benefit schemes | | | | Total defined benefit schemes | | | | Defined contribution pension schemes | | | | Total charge to the income statement (note 10) | | | |
| | | | | | Analysis of the defined benefit obligation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The pension schemes’ pooled investment vehicles comprise:The principal actuarial and financial assumptions used in valuations of the defined benefit pension schemes were as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Consumer Price Index (CPI) | | | | | | Weighted average rate of increase for pensions in payment | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Life expectancy for average member aged 60, on the valuation date | | | | | | Life expectancy for average member aged 60, 15 years after the valuation date | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Effect of reasonably possible alternative assumptions | | Increase (decrease) in the income statement charge | | Increase (decrease) in the net defined benefit pension scheme surplus | | | | | | | Inflation (including pension increases)1: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Expected life expectancy of members: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1At 31 December 2025, the assumed rate of RPI inflation is 2.65% and CPI inflation 2.13% (2024: RPI 2.97% and CPI 2.52%). 2At 31 December 2025, the assumed discount rate is 5.57% (2024: 5.55%). The following table provides information on the weighted average duration of the defined benefit pension obligation and the distribution and timing of benefit payments: | | | | | | Duration of the defined benefit obligation | | |
Maturity analysis of benefits expected to be paid: |
| Schedule of Retirement Benefits - Recognised in Balance Sheet, Pension Expense and Composition of Scheme Assets |
| | | | | | Amounts recognised in the balance sheet | | | Retirement benefit assets | | | Retirement benefit obligations | | | Total amounts recognised in the balance sheet | | |
The total amounts recognised in the balance sheet relate to: | | | | | | Defined benefit pension schemes | | | Other retirement benefit schemes | | | Total amounts recognised in the balance sheet | | |
The credit recognised in the income statement for the year ended 31 December comprises: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Past service cost – plan amendments | | | | Plan administration costs incurred during the year | | | | Total defined benefit pension credit | | | |
Note 12: Retirement benefit obligations continued (iii)Composition of scheme assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fixed interest government bonds | | | | | | | | | | | | Index-linked government bonds | | | | | | | | | | | | Corporate and other debt securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Pooled investment vehicles | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Money market instruments, cash, derivatives and other assets and liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1Of the total debt instruments, £29,876 million (2024: £27,551 million) were investment grade (credit ratings equal to or better than ‘BBB’). |
| Schedule of Retirement Benefits Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet and Change in Fair Value of Scheme Assets |
| | | | | | Amount included in the balance sheet | | | Present value of funded obligations | | | Fair value of scheme assets | | | Net amount recognised in the balance sheet | | |
Note 12: Retirement benefit obligations continued | | | | | | Net amount recognised in the balance sheet | | | | | | Net defined benefit pension credit | | | Actuarial gains on defined benefit obligation | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Changes in the fair value of scheme assets | | | | | | Return on plan assets excluding amounts included in interest income | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Administrative costs paid | | | Exchange and other adjustments | | | | | |
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| Schedule of Movements in Defined Benefit Obligation |
| | | | | | Movements in the defined benefit obligation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Actuarial gains – demographic assumptions | | | Actuarial (losses) gains – experience | | | Actuarial gains – financial assumptions | | | | | | | | | | | | Exchange and other adjustments | | | | | |
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