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


                                September 21, 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       Description

No. 1         RNS Announcement, re: Section 198 Notice dated 21 September, 2004


21 September 2004
                               British Energy plc


UK COMPANIES ACT 1985 - SECTIONS 198-203 - British Energy plc (the "Company")

The Company has received notice as follows:


1.   At close of business on 02 September 2004,  Stark Offshore  Management LLC,
     with registered  office at 3600 South Lake Drive,  St.  Francis,  Wisconsin
     53253,  USA ("Stark  Offshore")  was  interested  in a total of  37,380,881
     shares of the Company.

2.   On 20 September 2004,  Stark  Offshore's  interest was increased (by way of
     further  purchases)  so that it became  interested in a total of 43,910,569
     shares of the Company. Of these 43,910,569 shares:

     -   41,098,069 were ordinary shares; and

     -    2,812,500 were ordinary shares represented by an interest
          in 37,500 American Depositary Receipts.

3.   The registered holder of the shares detailed at paragraphs 1 and 2 above is
     Shepherd  Investments  International  Ltd, with  registered  office c/o HWR
     Services  Limited,  Craigmuir  Chambers,  P.O. Box 71, Road Town,  Tortola,
     British Virgin Islands, which is managed by Stark Offshore.

4.   The interest 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:  September 21, 2004                  BRITISH ENERGY PLC

                                           By:____John Searles____

                                           Name:  John Searles
                                           Title: Director - Investor Relations