Background

The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (the Regulations) cover the use of cookies and similar technologies for storing information, and accessing information stored, on a user's equipment such as their computer or mobile. Recent legislation means that all websites need to disclose any information that a website stores in cookies and obtain consent by the user where cookies are used.

This is because cookies can potentially be used to store personal information or to monitor a user's activities online. We only use cookies when absolutely necessary and none of our cookies contain any personal information.

What Are Cookies?

A cookie is a small file, typically of letters and numbers, downloaded on to a device when the user accesses certain websites. Cookies are then sent back to originating website on each subsequent visit. Cookies are useful because they allow a website to recognise a user's device. The Regulations apply to cookies and also to similar technologies for storing information. This could include, for example, Local Shared Objects.

The use of cookies and similar technologies has for some time been commonplace and cookies in particular are important in the provision of many online services. Using such technologies is not, therefore, prohibited by the Regulations but they do require that people are told about cookies and given the choice as to which of their online activities are monitored in this way.

This guidance will explain how the rules apply for those operating websites and using cookies. The guidance uses the term 'cookies' to refer to cookies and similar technologies covered by the Regulations.

For more information see: http://www.allaboutcookies.org/

How does our website use cookies?

There are a number of different types of cookies that can be used:

Session and persistent cookies

Cookies can expire at the end of a browser session (from when a user opens the browser window to when they exit the browser) these are "Session cookies" or they can be stored for longer - these are "Persistent cookies".

Session cookies - allow websites to link the actions of a user during a browser session. They may be used for a variety of purposes such as remembering what a user has put in their shopping basket as they browse around a site. They could also be used for security when a user is accessing internet banking or to facilitate use of webmail. These session cookies expire after a browser session so would not be stored longer term. For this reason session cookies may sometimes be considered less privacy intrusive than persistent cookies.

Persistent cookies - are stored on a users' device in between browser sessions which allows the preferences or actions of the user across a site (or in some cases across different websites) to be remembered. Persistent cookies may be used for a variety of purposes including remembering users' preferences and choices when using a site or to target advertising.

First and third party cookies - Whether a cookie is 'first' or 'third' party refers to the website or domain placing the cookie. First party cookies in basic terms are cookies set by a website visited by the user - the website displayed in the URL window. Third party cookies are cookies that are set by a domain other than the one being visited by the user. If a user visits a website and a separate company sets a cookie through that website this would be a third party cookie.

Our online login portal uses a Session Cookie - some modern browsers block these and the user cannot log in because they are regarded as third party cookies. This is because the same online login portal is used for a few different products and therefore the top banner on the screen has a different URL to the portal login page.

Here is a list of any cookies that are in use on our web site; the information held within them and the purpose of the cookie:

Information on how to reject or delete the Google Analytics cookie can be found at:

http://www.google.com/intl/en/privacypolicy.html

Please note other websites to which this website may be linked, may also make use of their own cookies.

Disabling Cookies

If you would like to restrict the use of cookies you can control this in your Internet browser. Links to advice on how to do this for the most popular Internet browsers are provided below for convenience and will be available for the Internet browser of your choice either online or via the software help (normally available via key F1).

• Internet Explorer

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/Block-enable-or-allow-cookies

• Google Chrome

https://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en-GB&answer=95647&p=cpn_cookies

• Firefox

http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Blocking%20cookies