Holding(s) in Company

Smith WH PLC
16 March 2005



                           SCHEDULE 10
 
             NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

W H SMITH PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

CO-OPERATIVE INSURANCE SOCIETY LIMITED

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 15 MARCH 2005

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 15 MARCH 2005

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

N/A

6)   Percentage of issued Class

-

7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

N/A

8)   Percentage of issued Class


9)   Class of security

ORDINARY SHARES OF 2 13/81 PENCE EACH

10)  Date of transaction

N/A

11)  Date company informed

16 MARCH 2005

12)  Total holding following this notification

5,775,563
               
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

3.20%

14)  Any additional information



15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

MISS A LAM [phone]

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

     Date of Notification ......  16 MARCH 2005  ..................


Letter to WH Smith PLC

COMPANIES ACT 1985, (AS AMENDED) SECTIONS 198 TO 21OA 
DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST IN SHARES

In accordance with the above provisions we hereby give you notice that the 
Co-operative Insurance Society Limited holds, as beneficial owner, 5,775,563 
W H Smith PLC shares at the close of business on 14th March 2005 this being equal 
to 3.21% of the relevant issued share capital of 180,500,756. The increase in our 
percentage holding was as a result of the following transaction:

Date              Transaction type          Number of ordinary shares
14/03/05          Society Purchase          550,000

Co-operative Insurance Society Limited holds the shares as beneficial owner. The 
notification given in this letter arises by virtue of approved stock lending 
activity undertaken by Co-operative Insurance Society Limited.

You note also that Co-operative Insurance Society Limited has, under the terms 
of its stock lending agreement, the right to call for delivery to it of shares 
of an identical type, nominal value, description and amount to the securities 
lent. By virtue of section 208(5) of the Companies Act 1985, such right is 
deemed to be a notifiable Interest in such securities.

From Co-operative Insurance 



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange