Holding(s) in Company

Smiths News PLC
11 December 2006




             NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES


1)   NAME OF LISTED COMPANY

     SMITHS NEWS PLC


2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

     BARCLAYS PLC


3)   Please state whether notification indicates that it is 
     regarding the holding of the shareholder named in 2 above;
     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 05 DECEMBER 2006


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 05 DECEMBER 2006


5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

     N/A


6)   Percentage of issued Class (any treasury shares held by the
     listed company should not be taken into account when
     calculating percentage)



7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

     N/A


8)   Percentage of issued Class (any treasury shares held by the
     listed company should not be taken into account when
     calculating percentage)

     

9)   Class of security

     ORDINARY SHARES OF 5 PENCE EACH


10)  Date of transaction

     N/A


11)  Date listed company informed

     08 DECEMBER 2006


12)  Total holding following this notification

     5,991,650

               
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification
     (any treasury shares held by the listed company should not be taken
     into account when calculating percentage)

     3.28%


14)  Any additional information



15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

     V HEYDON 
     [phone]

16)  Name and signature of duly authorised officer of the listed company
     responsible for making this notification

     M H CHARLTON
     COMPANY SECRETARY


     Date of Notification

     11 DECEMBER 2006




Letter to      Smiths News Plc
Letter dated   05 December 2006


Companies Act 1985 ('The Act') - Part VI

I hereby inform you that as at 04-December-06 Barclays PLC, through the legal
entities listed on the schedule below, has a notifiable interest in the
capital of your Company of 3.28 %

Details of this interest, together with a breakdown between registered holders
(as required by Section 202(3) of the Act), are enclosed.

The issued capital of 182,919,930 is the latest figure available to us.


Letter from Geoff Smith
            Barclays Compliance




                         LEGAL ENTITY REPORT

SMITHS NEWS PLC                                                   SEDOL: B17WCR6

As at 04 December 2006 Barclays PLC through the legal entities listed below, had
a notifiable interest in 5,991,650 ORD GBP0.05 representing 3.28% of the issued
share capital of 182,919,930 units.

Legal Entity                                            Holding  Percentage Held
               
Barclays Bank Trust Company Ltd                          20,147            .0110
Barclays Life Assurance Co Ltd                          201,808            .1103
Gerrard Ltd                                              22,299            .0122
Barclays Capital Securities Ltd                         620,349            .3391
Barclays Global Investors Ltd                         5,122,382           2.8003
Barclays Private Bank Ltd                                 4,665            .0026

                               Group Holding          5,991,650           3.2755


                                        
 

                         REGISTERED HOLDERS REPORT

SMITHS NEWS PLC                                                   SEDOL: B17WCR6

As at 04 December 2006 Barclays PLC through the registered holders listed below,
had a notifiable interest in 5,991,650 ORD GBP0.05 representing 3.28 % of the
issued share capital of 182,919,930 units.

Registered Holder                                      Account         Holding
                                                   Designation             

Barclays Capital Nominees Ltd                                          237,508
Barclays Trust Co R69                                                   20,147
CHASE NOMINEES LTD                                       16376          92,540
CHASE NOMINEES LTD                                       20947       3,204,239
CHASE NOMINEES LTD                                       21359         335,040
CHASE NOMINEES LTD                                       28270          52,178
Durlacher Nominees Ltd                                                 382,841
JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY)                                  16331          46,709
JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY)                                  16341         102,921
JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY)                                  16400       1,322,618
JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY)                                  18409         167,945
R C Greig Nominees Limited                                               9,505
R C Greig Nominees Limited GP1                                           5,498
R C Greig Nominees Limited SA1                                             755
R C Greig Nominees Limited a/c AK1                                       6,217
R C Greig Nominees Limited a/c BL1                                         324
ZEBAN NOMINEES LIMITED                                                   4,665

                                                         Total       5,991,650




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