Holding(s) in Company

Smith WH PLC
25 July 2006



                  NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES


1)   NAME OF LISTED COMPANY

     WH SMITH PLC


2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

     STANDARD LIFE GROUP


3)   Please state whether notification indicates that it is 
     regarding the holding of the shareholder named in 2 above;
     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 LETTER BELOW DATED 25 JULY 2006


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

     SEE LETTER BELOW DATED 25 JULY 2006


5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

     N/A


6)   Percentage of issued Class (any treasury shares held by the
     listed company should not be taken into account when
     calculating percentage)



7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

     N/A


8)   Percentage of issued Class (any treasury shares held by the
     listed company should not be taken into account when
     calculating percentage)



9)   Class of security

     ORDINARY SHARES OF 2 13/81 PENCE EACH


10)  Date of transaction

     N/A

11)  Date listed company informed

     25 JULY 2006


12)  Total holding following this notification

     19,777,484

               
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification
     (any treasury shares held by the listed company should not be taken
     into account when calculating percentage)

     10.92%


14)  Any additional information



15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

     MISS A LAM [phone]


16)  Name and signature of duly authorised officer of the listed company
     responsible for making this notification

     A J H STEWART, DIRECTOR


     Date of Notification ......25 JULY 2006..................




To: WH SMITH PLC

Smith WH Ord GBP 0.021605 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 21/07/06, Standard Life
Investments disposed of 292,516 shares on behalf of Standard Life Group, this
decreased the total held as a notifiable interest (including material and 
non-material interests) to 19,777,484 shares being 10.921% of the issued stock
of that class.

         No. of shares held                    Registered Name

             19,777,484                        Vidacos Nominees



From: Citibank, N.A. London Branch


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange