Cookies are small data files that websites generate and ask to store on your computer. Most websites use cookies in one form or another. They are typically used to:
- remember settings, so you don’t have to keep re-entering them whenever you visit a new page
- remember information you give to a website, such as a list of products in your shopping basket
- measure how you use the website so we can make sure it meets your needs
To learn more about cookies and how to manage them, visit AboutCookies.org, or please read on to find out more about how we use cookies.
Measuring Website Usage
Google Analytics is in use to collect information about how visitors use this site. This provides us with important information that can enable the site to work better. We do not link this information to your name or address.
The following cookies are used by Google Analytics:
| Name | Typical content | Cookie expires after |
|---|---|---|
| _utma | Randomly generated ID | 2 years |
| _utmb | Randomly generated ID | 30 minutes |
| _utmc | Randomly generated ID | When you close your web browser |
| _utmz | Randomly generated ID | 6 months |
| _ga | Stores a unique client identifier | 2 years |
| _gat | Used to create and retrieve tracker objects, from which all other methods are invoked |
Understanding your web browser capabilities
We set some cookies to store information about your browser settings, to understand which functionality to enable on the site. The following cookies are used:
| Name | Typical content | Cookie expires after |
|---|---|---|
| has_js | 1 or blank | When you close your web browser |
| lc_search_prefs | Remembers the values of your search filters. | 1 day |
Remembering your choices
Certain sections of our site remember your choices, so you can be provided with the right information if you visit other pages, and then return. For example, if you filter a list of information we will remember your choice and default to that selection if you visit the page again. These choices are not tied to any personally identifiable information. The following cookies are used:
| Name | Typical content | Cookie expires after |
|---|---|---|
| SESS<Randomly generated ID> | A randomly generated string | Up to 24 days |
AddThis sharing
Associated with the AddThis social sharing widget. The AddThis privacy policy can be viewed here : www.addthis.com/privacy
| Name | Typical content | Cookie expires after |
|---|---|---|
| _atuvc | Stores an updated page share count. | 2 years |
| _atuvs | Stores an updated page share count. | 2 years |
| log | Randomly generated ID | 2 years |
| uid | Tracks user logins to the AddThis Service | 2 years |
| uit | Tracks user logins to the AddThis Service | 1 day |
| um | Tracks user logins to the AddThis Service | 2 years |
| uvc | Used by AddThis to measure frequency of visits by user. | 2 years |
| vc | Used by AddThis to measure frequency of visits by user. | 2 years |