We have examined the summary financial statement of Smiths Group plc.

RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF DIRECTORS AND AUDITORS
The directors are responsible for preparing the summarised annual report (the Annual Review 2004) in accordance with applicable law. Our responsibility is to report to you our opinion on the consistency of the summary financial statement within the summarised annual report with the annual financial statements, the directors' report and the directors' remuneration report, and its compliance with the relevant requirements of Section 251 of the United Kingdom Companies Act 1985 and the regulations made thereunder. We also read the other information contained in the summarised annual report and consider the implications for our report if we become aware of any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the summary financial statement.

This statement, including the opinion, has been prepared for and only for the Company's members as a body in accordance with Section 251 of the Companies Act 1985 and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving this opinion, accept or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this statement is shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.

BASIS OF OPINION
We conducted our work in accordance with Bulletin 1999/6, 'The auditors' statement on the summary financial statement' issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom.

OPINION
In our opinion the summary financial statement is consistent with the annual financial statements, the directors' report and the directors' remuneration report of Smiths Group plc for the year ended 31 July 2004 and complies with the applicable requirements of Section 251 of the Companies Act 1985 and the regulations made thereunder.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors
London

22 September 2004

NOTES
(a) The maintenance and integrity of the Smiths Group plc website is the responsibility of the directors; the work carried out by the auditors does not involve consideration of these matters and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred to the financial statements since they were initially presented on the website.

(b) Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.