Number of operators 5 Process of allocation auction Pubblication of the assignment procedure 1. trim. 2000 Assignement of the licenses 2. trim. Yes, plenty of ATMs at Heathrow and Gatwick. Easy to cash at any bank. The 'Bank of England' is a part of the U.K. government.
Scottish banks are independant companies.
ATMs will almost invariably give you Scottish notes. If you ask nicely and explain you are leaving Scotland, Shops will happily swap the Scottish notes for English ones. These are used in preference to coins in Scotland and are the most difficult to use in England. In Northern Ireland 'The Bank of Ulster' issues notes under similar regulations to the Scottish banks. Note that there are also Northern Irish notes.