Director Shareholding

Barclays PLC
22 December 2004


                                                                22 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 22 December 2004 that it 
     had on 17 December 2004 exercised its discretion and released a total of 
     1,473,311 ordinary shares in Barclays PLC at a price of 571.89p per share. 
     None of the shares 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 22 December 2004 
     that it had on 17 December 2004 exercised its discretion and released a 
     total of 8,878 ordinary shares in Barclays PLC at a price of 571.89p per 
     share. None of the shares released 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 115,956,111 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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