Cookies
Cookies are files saved on your phone, tablet or computer that collect information about how you browse the service and are used to:
- measure how you use the service so it can be improved
- remember notifications you’ve seen so you’re not shown them again
Cookies that are strictly necessary
These cookies are essential to make this service run and to help us stay in line with data protection laws. You cannot turn these cookies off.
Introductory cookie message
You may see a pop-up welcome message when you first visit. A cookie is stored so that your computer knows you’ve seen it and knows not to show it again.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| cookie_policy | Lets us know you’ve seen our cookie message | 12 months |
| seen_cookie_message | Lets us know you’ve seen our cookie message | 12 months |
Essential cookies
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| cookieChallenge | Lets us know that you’ve been asked about cookies | Never |
| crumb | Helps to prevent unauthorised requests | On closing browser |
| idm | Lets us know that you’ve logged in or registered | 3 days |
| _inter"action" | Allows us to identify you as an individual user in our applications | 3 days |
| _interaction.sig | Allows us to identify you as an individual user in our applications | 3 days |
| session | Stores information that you’ve submitted | 3 days |
Cookies that measure your use of the service
These cookies track the pages you visit, how long you spend on each page and the options you choose. You can turn these cookies on or off.
We use Google Analytics to collect information about how you use the service.
This information is ‘anonymised’, we don’t know who it’s about.
We do not collect or store your personal information (for example, your name or address) and we do not allow Google to use our data or share it with anyone else.
We collect this information to make sure the service is meeting your needs and to help us improve it.
Google Analytics cookies
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| yda_ga | Helps us to count how many people use the service by tracking if you’ve visited before | In 2 years |
| yda_ga_gid | Helps us to count how many people use the service by tracking if you’ve visited before | In 24 hours |
You can opt out of Google Analytics cookies (opens in new tab).
Cookie settings
Government services
Most services we link to are run by different government departments, for example HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) or the Home Office. These services may set other cookies and, if so, will have their own cookies policy.
This was last updated on 21 April 2023