Holding in Company

Oxford Instruments PLC
3 August 2000


The Company has been notified today pursuant to Section 198 of the Companies
Act 1985, Section 198, as amended, by Clerical Medical Investment Management
Limited on behalf of Halifax Group plc that Halifax Group plc and its
subsidiaries have a material interest in the Ordinary Shares of Oxford
Instruments plc as follows: 
                                                                  
              No of Shares    Fund - Registered Holder            
              50,000          RF32 - MSS Nominees Ltd A/c 872859  
              12,000          RF42 - MSS Nominees Ltd A/c 872860  
              50,000          RF56 - MSS Nominees Ltd A/c 823873  
              116,245         RF59 - MSS Nominees Ltd A/c 823861  
              464,982         RF62 - MSS Nominees Ltd A/c 823770  
              300,000         RF63 - MSS Nominees Ltd A/c 823794  
              50,000          RF67 - MSS Nominees Ltd A/c 823757  
              516,000         RF80 - MSS Nominees Ltd A/c 823617  
              284,000         RF89 - MSS Nominees Ltd A/c 823629  
 
Halifax plc's total material interest is now 1,843,227 which is 3.85% of the
shares in issue.