FORM 6-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                            Report of Foreign Issuer


                      Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                                 August 09 2004


                               BRITISH ENERGY PLC
                               (Registrant's name)


                               3 Redwood Crescent
                                    Peel Park
                              East Kilbride G74 5PR
                                    Scotland
                    (Address of principal executive offices)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

                          Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                               Yes ..... No ..X..

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):



                                 Exhibit Index

The following document (bearing the exhibit number listed below) is furnished
herewith and is made a part of this Report pursuant to the General Instructions
for Form 6-K:

Exhibit No. 1

RNS Announcement, re: 'Section 198 Notice' dated 09 August 2004


9 August 2004



                               British Energy plc



Notification for the purposes of sections 198-203 Companies Act 1985 - British
Energy plc (the "Company")


Brian J. Stark, of business address 3600 South Lake Drive, St. Francis,
Wisconsin 53253 USA, hereby gives the Company notice as follows: -


1. At close of business on 04 August 2004, he was interested in a total of
37,841,175 shares of the Company.



2. On 05 August 2004 his interest increased (by way of further purchases) so
that he became interested in a total of 42,841,175 shares of the Company.  Of
these 42,841,175 shares:



    a.  the interest in 32,130,881 shares arose from the holding registered in
the name of Shepherd Investments International Ltd, with registered office c/o
HWR Services Limited, Craigmuir Chambers, P.O. Box 71, Road Town Tortola,
British Virgin Islands ("Shepherd"), which is managed by Stark Offshore
Management LLC, with registered office at 3600 South Lake Driver, St. Francis,
Wisconsin, 53253, USA ("Stark Offshore).  Mr Stark controls at least one-third
of the voting power of Stark Offshore; and

    b.  the interest in 10,710,294 shares arose from the holding registered in
the name of Stark International, with registered office c/o Arthur Morris,
Christensen & Co., Century House, 31 Richmond Road, Hamilton HM 08, Bermuda
("Stark"), whose managing general partner is Stark Onshore Management LLC, with
registered office  at 3600 South Lake Drive, St. Francis, Wisconsin 53253, USA
("Stark Onshore").  Mr Stark controls at least one-third of the voting power of
Stark Onshore.



3.  a.   Of the 32,130,881 shares held by Shepherd as at close
of business on 05 August 2004, 29,318,381 were ordinary shares and 2,812,500
were ordinary shares represented by an interest in 37,500 American Depository
Receipts ("ADRs").

    b.  Of the 10,710,294 shares held by Stark as at close of business on 05
August 2004, 9,772,794 were ordinary shares and 937,500 were ordinary shares
represented by an interest in 12,500 ADRs.



4. The interests in the shares detailed at paragraphs 1-3 above do not
arise by virtue of such an interest as is mentioned in s.208(5) Companies Act
1985.


                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


Date:  August 09 2004                      BRITISH ENERGY PLC

                                           By:____Paul Heward____

                                           Name:  Paul Heward
                                           Title: Director - Investor Relations