Director Shareholding

Barclays PLC
20 April 2004


                                                                   20 April 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 19 April 2004 that it had
between 14 April 2004 and 16 April 2004 exercised its discretion and released
88,021 ordinary shares in Barclays PLC to participants in the Executive Share
Award Scheme ('ESAS'). None of these shares were released 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 19 April 2004
that it had on 16 April 2004 released a total of 10,754 shares in Barclays PLC
at a price of £4.89 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 106,775,523 ordinary shares in Barclays PLC. Sir
Peter Middleton, Chairman, and the executive directors of Barclays PLC 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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