Appointment of Director

INVESCO Perpetual UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc          

HEADLINE: Appointment of Director

The Board of INVESCO Perpetual UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc is
pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Ian C S Barby as a non-executive
Director of the Company with effect from 5 January 2004.

Mr Barby is 59 and, until his recent retirement was Managing Director of the
investment trust division at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers. He brings wide
experience of the investment trust sector to the Board and is also a
non-executive director of Merrill Lynch World Mining Trust plc and Ecofin Water
and Power Opportunities plc.

Mr Barby does not currently hold any of the Company's ordinary shares.

No information is to be disclosed in respect of paragraphs 6.F.2 (b) - (g) and
16.4(b) of the Financial Services Authority's Listing Rules.

INVESCO Asset Management Limited

5 January 2004