Cookies and how we use them
Overview of cookies
A cookie is a simple text file which stores data. (It is not a program: it doesn’t do anything.) A website which uses cookies sends this text file to your computer the first time you visit. The cookie is then stored on your computer and holds data relating to your visit – typically the name of the website and unique user ID which anonymously relates to you. The cookies we use in this website cannot be used to identify you personally.
You can control cookies
You can accept or reject cookies. You can also receive a prompt before accepting a cookie. You do this through your browser such as Internet
Explorer, Firefox or Safari. Find out more about controlling cookies by following the link in this page to http://www.aboutcookies.org or go to the help section of your browser. If you are considering blocking cookies please be aware that it may prevent or hinder you from using some websites and their services.
Why we use cookies
We use Google Analytics for our web statistics and this sets cookies. By using web analytics, we can measure how many people are using our
online services. This information can help us to improve our website further.
Google Analytics
Google Analytics sets cookies to help us accurately estimate the number of visitors to the website and volumes of usage. Cookies set:
Name: _utma
Persistent cookie used to store the number of visits by a user, the time of the first visit, the previous visit and the current visit.
Contains: randomly generated number
Expires: one year
Name: _utmb
Persistent cookie used to check approximately how long you stay on the website: when a visit starts and approximately ends.
Contains: randomly generated number
Expires: 30 minutes
Name: _utmc
Session cookie used to check approximately how long you stay on the website: when a visit starts and approximately ends.
Contains: randomly generated number
Expires: when user exits browser
Name: _utmz
Persistent cookie used to store information on how the visitor reached the website (e.g. directly or via a link, search engine, keyword)
Contains: randomly generated number and information about where the user came from
Expires: seven months