Director Shareholding

Barclays PLC
17 December 2004


                                                                17 December 2004

         Notification of directors' interests: Companies Act 1985 s.329

1.  The independent trustee of the Barclays Group (ESAS) Employees' Benefit 
    Trust (the 'ESAS Trust') notified the Company on 16 December 2004 that it 
    had on 14 December 2004 exercised its discretion and purchased a total of 
    793,099 ordinary shares in Barclays PLC at a price of 565.82p per share and 
    released 20,870 ordinary shares in Barclays PLC. None of the shares 
    purchased or released were in respect of an award made to a director of 
    Barclays PLC.

2.  The independent trustee of the Barclays Group (ESAS) Supplementary Trust 
    (the 'ESAS Supplementary Trust') notified the Company on 16 December 2004 
    that it had on 14 December 2004 exercised its discretion and purchased a 
    total of 75,664 ordinary shares in Barclays PLC at a price of 565.82p per 
    share. None of the shares purchased were in respect of an award made to a 
    director of Barclays PLC.

Following these transactions, the trustees of all the Barclays Group employees'
benefit trusts hold a total of 117,438,300 ordinary shares in Barclays PLC. Mr
Barrett, Chairman, and the executive directors of Barclays are amongst the
potential beneficiaries under these trusts and are therefore regarded for
Companies Act purposes as being interested in the Barclays PLC ordinary shares
held in them.




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