Director Shareholding

British Assets Trust PLC
19 October 2001


                       DEALINGS BY DIRECTORS


1)  NAME OF COMPANY

BRITISH ASSETS TRUST PLC

2)  NAME OF DIRECTOR

WILLIAM RONALD ERSKINE THOMSON

3)  Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of
    holding of the shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a
    non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder
    if it is a holding of that person's spouse or children under the
    age of 18 or in respect of an non-beneficial interest

AS 2

4)  Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the
    number of shares held by each of them. (If notified)

UNKNOWN

5)  Please state whether notification relates to a person(s) connected
    with the Director named in 2 above and identify the connected person(s)

AS 2

6)  Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions
    please indicate whether general/single co PEP and if discretionary/non
    discretionary

CONVERSION OF 1,280 GROWTH SHARES AND EXERCISE OF 1,600 WARRANTS TO ORDINARY 
SHARES OF 101P PER SHARE

7)  Number of shares/amount of
    stock acquired

N/A

8)   (N/A %)
    of issued Class



9)  Number of shares/amount
    of stock disposed

N/A

10)  (N/A %)
    of issued Class



11) Class of security

ORDINARY 25P SHARES

12) Price per share

WARRANTS EXERCISED AT 101P PER SHARE

13) Date of transaction

30.09.01

14) Date company informed

19.10.01

15) Total holding following this notification

9,600

16) Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

0.003

     IF A DIRECTOR HAS BEEN GRANTED OPTIONS BY THE COMPANY PLEASE
                    COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING BOXES

17) Date of grant



18) Period during which or date on which exercisable



19) Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the option



20) Description of shares or debentures involved: class, number.



21) Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) or indication that price
    is to be fixed at time of exercise



22) Total number of shares or debentures over which options held
    following this notification



23) Any additional information



24) Name of contact and telephone number for queries

ANDY NICHOLSON
0131 465 1071

25) Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for
    making this notification

    Date of Notification        19TH OCTOBER 2001