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 6 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 6 September 2004



6 September 2004



                               British Energy plc


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


The Company has received notification pursuant to Section 198 of the Companies
Act 1985, that as at close of business on 2nd September 2004, UBS Investment
Bank, ("UBS-IB"), a business group of UBS AG, had an interest in 43,632,553
Ordinary shares of British Energy plc Ordinary shares, representing 7.03 per
cent of the issued share capital of the Company.


                                   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 06 2004                   BRITISH ENERGY PLC

                                           By:____John Searles____

                                           Name:  John Searles
                                           Title: Director - Investor Relations