7. Ordinary dividends
| Group | ||||||
| 2006 p per share |
2005 p per share |
2004 p per share |
2006 £m |
2005 £m |
2004 £m |
|
| Final dividend for previous year declared during the current year | 53.1 | 41.2 | 35.7 | 1,699 | 1,308 | 1,059 |
| Interim dividend | 24.2 | 19.4 | 16.8 | 771 | 619 | 529 |
| Total dividends paid on ordinary equity shares | 77.3 | 60.6 | 52.5 | 2,470 | 1,927 | 1,588 |
Final dividends are not accounted for until they have been ratified by members in a general meeting. At the Annual General Meeting on 25 April 2007, a final dividend in respect of 2006 of 66.4 pence per share (2005 – 53.1 pence per share) amounting to a total of £2.1 billion (2005 – £1.7 billion) is to be proposed. The financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2006 do not reflect this dividend which, if approved, will be accounted for in shareholders’ equity as an appropriation of retained profits in the year ending 31 December 2007
© 2007