Purchase of Own Securities

British Empire Sec & Gen Tst PLC
13 March 2000




PURCHASE OF OWN SHARES

On 10 March 2000 British Empire Securities and General Trust p.l.c. bought
1,000,000 of its own ordinary shares for cancellation at a price of 160.00p
each.  There are 179,285,089 ordinary shares in issue following this purchase.



Enquiries:   John Walton, Ivory & Sime Asset Management Limited
             Tel: [phone]