What is a cookie?

A cookie is a small data file that is sent to your computer or another device from a website and is stored in your computer's hard drive when you visit that website.

There are different types of cookies which are used to do different things. These include letting you navigate between different pages on a website efficiently, remembering preferences you have given and helping us to identify ways to improve your overall site experience. Others are used to provide you with advertising which is more tailored to your interests, or to measure the number of site visits and the most popular pages users visit. We also use third-party cookies – which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting – for our advertising and marketing efforts.

Broadly, there are two different types of browser cookie, (i) session cookies, which are stored in the computer's memory during a user's browsing session and are automatically deleted from your computer when the browser is closed or the session is deemed to have ended; and (ii) persistent cookies, which are stored on the user's computer and are not deleted when the browser is closed. Persistent cookies can be used to retain user preferences for a particular website, allowing those preferences to be used in future browsing sessions.

Why do we use cookies?

Cookies enable us to customise your website experience and how best to deliver a better online service.

In addition to cookies that are strictly necessary to operate our website, we use the following types of cookies to improve our website and services:

Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.

Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.

Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.

Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

How can you control the use of cookies?

You may refuse the use of cookies or change their settings at any time. Since cookies are linked to the browser userd, they can be disabled directly from the browser by refusing or revoking consent for the use of cookies, or through the preference center by clicking here.

Disabling cookies may prevent you from using certain website features properly, in particular, services by third parties may not be accessible and may not be displayed correctly.

Learn more about cookies

To find out more about cookies in general either search in Google or visit allaboutcookies.org or aboutcookies.org.uk.

A guide to behavioural advertising and online privacy has been produced by the internet advertising industry which can be found at youronlinechoices.eu. The guide contains an explanation of the Internet Advertising Bureau's self-regulatory scheme to allow you greater control of the advertising you see.