Net debt - Schedule of changes in net debt (Details) - GBP (£)
£ in Millions |
12 Months Ended |
Mar. 31, 2024 |
Mar. 31, 2023 |
Mar. 31, 2022 |
| Liabilities from financing activities |
|
|
|
| Liabilities arising from financing activities at start of year |
£ (43,778)
|
£ (46,215)
|
£ (31,124)
|
| Proceeds received from loans |
(5,563)
|
(11,908)
|
(12,347)
|
| Repayment of loans |
1,701
|
15,260
|
1,261
|
| Payments of lease liabilities |
118
|
155
|
117
|
| Net movements in short-term borrowings |
(544)
|
511
|
11
|
| Cash inflows on derivatives |
(86)
|
(190)
|
(20)
|
| Cash outflows on derivatives |
58
|
118
|
114
|
| Interest paid |
1,627
|
1,430
|
1,053
|
| Non-net debt financing cash flows |
(18)
|
(27)
|
(33)
|
| Fair value gains and losses |
(29)
|
413
|
(186)
|
| Foreign exchange movements |
718
|
(1,311)
|
(652)
|
| Interest (charges)/income |
(1,848)
|
(1,828)
|
(1,231)
|
| Other non-cash movements |
(205)
|
(283)
|
34
|
| Acquisition of NGED |
|
|
(8,260)
|
| Reclassification to held for sale |
13
|
97
|
5,048
|
| Liabilities arising from financing activities at end of year |
(47,836)
|
(43,778)
|
(46,215)
|
| Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
|
| Cash and cash equivalents at start of year |
163
|
204
|
157
|
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
427
|
(48)
|
9
|
| Foreign exchange movements |
(1)
|
7
|
5
|
| Acquisition of NGED |
|
|
44
|
| Reclassification to held for sale |
(30)
|
9
|
(11)
|
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |
559
|
163
|
204
|
| Financial investments |
|
|
|
| Financial investments at start of year |
2,605
|
3,145
|
2,342
|
| Net movements in short-term financial investments |
1,141
|
(586)
|
781
|
| Interest received |
(148)
|
(65)
|
(40)
|
| Fair value gains and losses |
4
|
(18)
|
(12)
|
| Foreign exchange movements |
(49)
|
61
|
53
|
| Interest (charges)/income |
152
|
73
|
54
|
| Other non-cash movements |
|
|
(15)
|
| Acquisition of NGED |
|
|
69
|
| Reclassification to held for sale |
(6)
|
(5)
|
(87)
|
| Financial investments at end of year |
3,699
|
2,605
|
3,145
|
| Other financing derivatives |
|
|
|
| Other financing derivatives at start of year |
37
|
57
|
79
|
| Cash inflows on derivatives |
(123)
|
0
|
(17)
|
| Cash outflows on derivatives |
0
|
362
|
122
|
| Derivative cash flows included in capital expenditure |
5
|
12
|
8
|
| Derivative cash flows included in revenue |
(11)
|
|
|
| Fair value gains and losses |
60
|
(394)
|
(132)
|
| Interest (charges)/income |
7
|
|
(5)
|
| Other non-cash movements |
(4)
|
|
|
| Reclassification to held for sale |
|
|
2
|
| Other financing derivatives at end of year |
(29)
|
37
|
57
|
| Net debt |
|
|
|
| Net debt at start of year |
(40,973)
|
(42,809)
|
(28,546)
|
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
427
|
(48)
|
9
|
| Proceeds received from loans |
(5,563)
|
(11,908)
|
(12,347)
|
| Repayment of loans |
1,701
|
15,260
|
1,261
|
| Payments of lease liabilities |
118
|
155
|
117
|
| Net movements in short-term borrowings |
(544)
|
511
|
11
|
| Cash inflows on derivatives |
(86)
|
(190)
|
(20)
|
| Cash outflows on derivatives |
58
|
118
|
114
|
| Interest paid |
1,627
|
1,430
|
1,053
|
| Non-net debt financing cash flows |
(18)
|
(27)
|
(33)
|
| Net movements in short-term financial investments |
1,141
|
(586)
|
781
|
| Cash inflows on derivatives |
(123)
|
0
|
(17)
|
| Cash outflows on derivatives |
0
|
362
|
122
|
| Derivative cash flows included in capital expenditure |
5
|
12
|
8
|
| Interest received |
(148)
|
(65)
|
(40)
|
| Derivative cash flows included in revenue |
(11)
|
|
|
| Fair value gains and losses |
35
|
1
|
(330)
|
| Foreign exchange movements |
668
|
(1,243)
|
(594)
|
| Interest (charges)/income |
(1,689)
|
(1,755)
|
(1,182)
|
| Other non-cash movements |
(209)
|
(283)
|
19
|
| Acquisition of NGED |
|
|
(8,147)
|
| Reclassification to held for sale |
(23)
|
92
|
4,952
|
| Net debt at end of year |
(43,607)
|
(40,973)
|
(42,809)
|
| Interest payable |
490
|
401
|
351
|
| Bank overdrafts |
|
|
22
|
| Borrowings |
|
|
|
| Liabilities from financing activities |
|
|
|
| Liabilities arising from financing activities at start of year |
(42,985)
|
(45,465)
|
(31,220)
|
| Proceeds received from loans |
(5,563)
|
(11,908)
|
(12,347)
|
| Repayment of loans |
1,701
|
15,260
|
1,261
|
| Payments of lease liabilities |
118
|
155
|
117
|
| Net movements in short-term borrowings |
(544)
|
511
|
11
|
| Interest paid |
1,330
|
1,277
|
998
|
| Non-net debt financing cash flows |
(18)
|
(27)
|
(33)
|
| Fair value gains and losses |
(69)
|
367
|
286
|
| Foreign exchange movements |
718
|
(1,311)
|
(652)
|
| Interest (charges)/income |
(1,564)
|
(1,658)
|
(1,177)
|
| Other non-cash movements |
(209)
|
(283)
|
34
|
| Acquisition of NGED |
|
|
(8,286)
|
| Reclassification to held for sale |
13
|
97
|
5,543
|
| Liabilities arising from financing activities at end of year |
(47,072)
|
(42,985)
|
(45,465)
|
| Net debt |
|
|
|
| Proceeds received from loans |
(5,563)
|
(11,908)
|
(12,347)
|
| Repayment of loans |
1,701
|
15,260
|
1,261
|
| Payments of lease liabilities |
118
|
155
|
117
|
| Net movements in short-term borrowings |
(544)
|
511
|
11
|
| Interest paid |
1,330
|
1,277
|
998
|
| Non-net debt financing cash flows |
(18)
|
(27)
|
(33)
|
| Financing derivatives used to hedge debt |
|
|
|
| Liabilities from financing activities |
|
|
|
| Liabilities arising from financing activities at start of year |
(793)
|
(750)
|
96
|
| Cash inflows on derivatives |
(86)
|
(190)
|
(20)
|
| Cash outflows on derivatives |
58
|
118
|
114
|
| Interest paid |
297
|
153
|
55
|
| Fair value gains and losses |
40
|
46
|
(472)
|
| Interest (charges)/income |
(284)
|
(170)
|
(54)
|
| Other non-cash movements |
4
|
|
|
| Acquisition of NGED |
|
|
26
|
| Reclassification to held for sale |
|
|
(495)
|
| Liabilities arising from financing activities at end of year |
(764)
|
(793)
|
(750)
|
| Net debt |
|
|
|
| Cash inflows on derivatives |
(86)
|
(190)
|
(20)
|
| Cash outflows on derivatives |
58
|
118
|
114
|
| Interest paid |
297
|
£ 153
|
£ 55
|
| Non-current assets |
|
|
|
| Liabilities from financing activities |
|
|
|
| Liabilities arising from financing activities at end of year |
310
|
|
|
| Other financing derivatives |
|
|
|
| Other financing derivatives at end of year |
5
|
|
|
| Net debt |
|
|
|
| Net debt at end of year |
315
|
|
|
| Non-current assets | Financing derivatives used to hedge debt |
|
|
|
| Liabilities from financing activities |
|
|
|
| Liabilities arising from financing activities at end of year |
310
|
|
|
| Current assets |
|
|
|
| Liabilities from financing activities |
|
|
|
| Liabilities arising from financing activities at end of year |
1
|
|
|
| Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
|
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |
559
|
|
|
| Financial investments |
|
|
|
| Financial investments at end of year |
3,699
|
|
|
| Other financing derivatives |
|
|
|
| Other financing derivatives at end of year |
17
|
|
|
| Net debt |
|
|
|
| Net debt at end of year |
4,276
|
|
|
| Current assets | Financing derivatives used to hedge debt |
|
|
|
| Liabilities from financing activities |
|
|
|
| Liabilities arising from financing activities at end of year |
1
|
|
|
| Current liabilities |
|
|
|
| Liabilities from financing activities |
|
|
|
| Liabilities arising from financing activities at end of year |
(5,090)
|
|
|
| Other financing derivatives |
|
|
|
| Other financing derivatives at end of year |
(18)
|
|
|
| Net debt |
|
|
|
| Net debt at end of year |
(5,108)
|
|
|
| Current liabilities | Borrowings |
|
|
|
| Liabilities from financing activities |
|
|
|
| Liabilities arising from financing activities at end of year |
(4,859)
|
|
|
| Current liabilities | Financing derivatives used to hedge debt |
|
|
|
| Liabilities from financing activities |
|
|
|
| Liabilities arising from financing activities at end of year |
(231)
|
|
|
| Non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
| Liabilities from financing activities |
|
|
|
| Liabilities arising from financing activities at end of year |
(43,057)
|
|
|
| Other financing derivatives |
|
|
|
| Other financing derivatives at end of year |
(33)
|
|
|
| Net debt |
|
|
|
| Net debt at end of year |
(43,090)
|
|
|
| Non-current liabilities | Borrowings |
|
|
|
| Liabilities from financing activities |
|
|
|
| Liabilities arising from financing activities at end of year |
(42,213)
|
|
|
| Non-current liabilities | Financing derivatives used to hedge debt |
|
|
|
| Liabilities from financing activities |
|
|
|
| Liabilities arising from financing activities at end of year |
£ (844)
|
|
|