Holding in Company

Smith WH PLC
15 March 2001



                  DEALINGS BY SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

     WH SMITH PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

     STANDARD LIFE INVESTMENTS

3)   Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of 
     holding of the Shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a 
     non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a
     holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18

     SEE LETTER DATED 14 MARCH 2001 BELOW

4)   Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the 
     number of shares held by each of them.

     SEE LETTER DATED 14 MARCH 2001 BELOW

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

     N/A

6)   ( N/A %) of issued Class

7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

     N/A

8)   ( N/A %) of issued Class

9)   Class of security

     ORDINARY SHARES OF 55 5/9 PENCE EACH

10)  Date of transaction

     N/A

11)  Date company informed

     15 MARCH 2001

12)  Total holding following this notification

     9,025,149
               
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     3.62%

14)  Any additional information



15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

     A LAM: [phone]

16)  Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for 
     making this notification

     Date of Notification: 15 MARCH 2001


Letter to WH Smith


WH SMITH ORD GBP55.555555 SHARES

In terms of Part V of the Companies Act 1989, Section 134, I have to inform you
that on 13/03/01, Standard Life Investments purchased 1,676,524 shares on behalf
of Standard Life Group, this increased the total held as a material interest to
9,025,149 shares being 3.628% of the issued stock of that class.

No. of shares held                        Registered Name

9,025,149                                 Stanlife Nominees Limited



Letter from  Bryan Learmond
             Standard Life Investments