What is a cookie?

A cookie is a small information file that may be placed on your device when you visit our sites. They are used to improve services for you by, for example:

• Enabling the service to recognise your device so you do not need to give the same information repeatedly
• Recognising when you have already given a username and password so that you do not need to do so for every subsequent web page you visit
• Measuring how many people are using the services we provide, so we can make them easier and faster to use
• Analysing data, anonymously, to help us understand how people interact with our services

Why we use cookies

When we provide services, we want to make them easy, useful and reliable. Where services are delivered on the internet, this sometimes involves placing small amounts of information on your computer, mobile phone or other device you are using to access the internet. This information is held in cookies. Cookies are not used to store personally information or track your browsing activity when you leave our sites to browse other sites.

For more information about how to remove cookies from your device, or how to block individual cookies from being received, please see the instructions and guidance at www.aboutcookies.org/