Cookies are text files containing small amounts of data which are downloaded to your computer, or other device, when you visit a website. They are useful because they allow us to recognise your computer and improve your experience on our websites. Some cookies are also needed for the operation of our websites.
Last updated:
21 July 2025
Necessary cookies
| Cookie | Cookie name | Expiry | Purpose | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cookies message | CookieAcceptance | 1 year | Used to store acceptance of cookies. | Necessary |
| Cloudflare | cf_clearance | 30 minutes | Used by Cloudflare (the content network) to identify trusted web traffic, and protect our website against malicious activity. This does not contain any user identification information. | Necessary |
| __cf_bm | 30 minutes | Used by Cloudflare (the content network) to identify trusted web traffic, and protect our website against malicious activity. This does not contain any user identification information. | Necessary | |
| __cflb | 1 day | Used by Cloudflare (the content network) for load balancing. This does not contain any user identification information. | Necessary | |
| Website search | SECFOSSESSID | Session | Used by the website to store an anonymous session ID. This enables our search and content filters to function, and isn't used for analytics purposes. | Necessary |
| Online complaint forms | .EgressSecureForms.Culture | Session | Used by Egress to help display our form in the language set by the browser or device. | Used if you use our online complaint forms |
| .AspNetCore.Antiforgery.* | Session | Used by Egress to prevent actions on our forms from malicious sources. | ||
| _GRECAPTCHA | 180 days | Used by Google to identify bots to protect our website. | ||
| Email newsletter | LP-33A5C2715129B9305GFD51688B59D701FBAD | 30 days | Used on our email newsletter subscription form to store a unique ID. | Used if you sign up to our email newsletter |
| Visme | PHPSESSID | Session | Used to display an embedded chart during a session. | Used if you view a page with an interactive chart |
| Recite Me | Recite_Session | Session | Used to open the Recite Me toolbar. | Used if you open the Recite Me accessibility toolbar |
| Recite.Persist | 1 Year | Used to display the toolbar across all pages. | ||
| Recite.Preferences | 1 year | Used to save your personal toolbar preferences, such as language. |
Functional cookies
| Cookie | Cookie name | Expiry | Purpose | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Website story banner | hide_featured_story_%s | 90 days | Used to store preferences around showing and hiding featured story banners. | Functional |
Analytics cookies
| Cookie | Cookie name | Expiry | Purpose | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics | _ga_* | 400 days | Used by Google Analytics to identify and track an individual session with your device. | Analytics |
| _ga | 400 days | Analytics | ||
| _gat_UA-* | Session | Analytics | ||
| _gat* | 1 minute | Used by Google Analytics to read and filter requests from bots. | Analytics | |
| _gid | 1 day | Used by Google Analytics to distinguish visitors to our website. | Analytics | |
| Hotjar | _hjIncludedInSessionSample_* | 2 minutes | Used by Hotjar to determine if a user is included in the data sampling. | Analytics |
| _hjIncludedInPageviewSample | 2 minutes | Analytics | ||
| _hjSessionUser_* | 1 year | Used by Hotjar to link repeated visits to the same user. | Analytics | |
| _hjSession_* | Session | Used by Hotjar to ensure all requests in a session are attributed to the same session. | Analytics | |
| _hjAbsoluteSessionInProgress | 30 minutes | Used by Hotjar to to detect the first pageview session of a user. | Analytics | |
| _hjFirstSeen | 30 minutes | Used by Hotjar to identify new user sessions. | Analytics | |
| _BEAMER_USER_ID_* | 1 year | Used by Hotjar to to set and store an ID for a user. | Analytics | |
| _hjDonePolls | 1 year | Used by Hotjar to ensure that the same Survey does not reappear if it has already been filled in. | Analytics – and only used if complete a Survey | |
| _hjMinimizedPolls | 1 year | Used by Hotjar to ensure that a Survey stays minimised once it has been minimised. | Analytics – and only used if you minimise a Survey | |
| YouTube | VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE | 6 months | Used by YouTube as a identifier to track video viewing. | Analytics – and only used if you watch a video on our website |
| YSC | Session | Used by YouTube to track a users interaction. | Analytics – and only used if you watch a video on our website | |
| Google Ads | DSID | 2 weeks | Used by Google to store user preferences for ad personalisation. | Analytics |
| IDE | 13 months | Used by Google to provide ad delivery or retargeting. | Analytics |
