Holding(s) in Company

Smith WH PLC
9 July 2002

                  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 BELOW DATED 9 JULY 2002

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

     SEE LETTER BELOW DATED 9 JULY 2002

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

     9 JULY 2002

12)  Total holding following this notification

     7,045,457
               
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     LESS THAN 3%

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

     I HOUGHTON
     SECRETARY

     Date of Notification   9 JULY 2002


LETTER TO WH SMITH PLC

Smith WH PLC Ord GBP55.55 shares

In terms of Part V of the Companies Act 1959, Section 134, I have to inform you
that on 08/07/2002, Standard Life Investments sold 1,220,833 shares on behalf of
Standard Life Group, this decreased the total held as a material interest to
7,045,457 shares being below 3% of the issued stock of that class. 

     No. of shares held         Registered Name

     7,045,457                  Stanlife Nominees Limited

LETTER FROM STANDARD LIFE INVESTMENTS


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