Holding(s) in Company

Smith WH PLC
1 November 2004



                           SCHEDULE 10
 
             NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

     WH SMITH PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

     STANDARD LIFE GROUP

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

     SEE BELOW LETTER DATED 1 NOVEMBER 2004

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

     SEE BELOW LETTER DATED 1 NOVEMBER 2004

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

      N/A

6)   Percentage of issued Class


7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed
      N/A

8)   Percentage of issued Class


9)   Class of security

     ORDINARY SHARES OF 2 13/81 PENCE EACH

10)  Date of transaction

     N/A

11)  Date company informed

      1 NOVEMBER 2004

12)  Total holding following this notification

     5,539,769
               
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

      3.071%

14)  Any additional information

      

15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

      MISS A LAM [phone]

16)  Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for 
     making this notification    I HOUGHTON

     Date of Notification .....1 NOVEMBER 2004...................


Letter to Data Control

Smith (WH) Ord GBP0.021605 shares

In terms of Part VI of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended), I have to inform you
on behalf of Standard Life Investments that on 29/10/04, Standard Life 
Investments purchased 185,131 shares on behalf of Standard Life Group, this 
increased the total held as a material interest to 5,539,769 shares being 3.071%
of the issued stock of that class.

                No. of shares held                Registered Name
                  5,539,769                       Vidacos Nominees


Letter from Citigroup




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