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")


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 of 13 August 2004, he was interested in total of
44,841,175 shares of the Company.


2. On 02 September 2004 his interest increased (by way of further purchases) so
that he became interested in a total of 49,841,175 shares of the Company.  Of
these 49,841,175 shares:


(A)  the interest in 37,380,881, shares arose from the holding
registered in the name of Shepherd Investments International Ltd, with
registered office c/0 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 Drive,
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 12,460,294 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 37,380,881 shares held by Shepherd as at close of
business on 02 September 2004, 34,568,381 were ordinary shares and 2,812,500
were ordinary shares represented by an interest in 37,500 American Depositary
Receipts ("ADRs").


(B)  Of the 12,460,294 shares held by Stark as at close of business on 02
September 2004, 11,522,794 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:  September 06 2004                   BRITISH ENERGY PLC

                                           By:____John Searles____

                                           Name:  John Searles
                                           Title: Director - Investor Relations