Directors' Dealings

Smith (W.H.) Group PLC
18 January 2000


W H Smith Group PLC (the 'Company')

W H Smith Employees' Share Trust 1999 (the 'Trust')

In accordance with Chapter 16 Paragraph 13 of the Listing Rules, notification is
hereby given that:-

On 18 January 2000, 3,774 Ordinary Shares of 55 5/9 pence each were transferred
out of the above Trust to satisfy an award of shares under the terms of the W H
Smith Group Share Award Scheme (the 'Scheme').  The Company was notified of this
transaction on 18 January 2000.  As a result of this transaction the Trust now
holds 858,182 Ordinary Shares of 55 5/9 pence each (0.34% of the issued Class).

The Trust is a discretionary trust established for the purpose of satisfying
awards made under the Scheme.  The following executive directors of the Company,
being potential beneficiaries of the Trust, are considered to be interested in
these shares:

R G Handover
K Hamill
T M Hely Hutchinson
Ms B C Hodson
L J Wigglesworth