Holding(s) in Company

Reed Elsevier PLC
17 November 2003

To: RNS

               Disclosure of Interest in Voting Shares

I am writing to inform you that we received today a notification dated 7
November 2003, in accordance with Part VI of the Companies Act 1985 (as
amended), that the interest of Barclays PLC, and its subsidiary companies, in
the ordinary shares of Reed Elsevier PLC is 38,438,661 representing 3.02% of the
Company's current issued share capital.

From: REED ELSEVIER PLC


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