Use of Cookies

This website uses a number of different computer internet “cookies”.

It is a requirement of the EU’s Electronic Communications Framework that informed consent be granted by users for the use of cookies, in particular behavioural advertising. On this page you will find details of the cookies that we use and why we use them.

If you not comfortable with our use of cookies then it is recommended that you either amend your cookies settings in your browser or leave the site immediately and then clear your browser history.

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a small text file that may be placed on your computer or mobile device drive or memory when you visit our website using a browser. Please note that no personal data such as your name, address, telephone number or email address is ever collected.

There are two main types of cookies:

• Temporary Session cookies remain on your device until you close your browser and then they are deleted automatically
• Persistent cookies remain on your device until deleted manually or after a specified length of time, for example 30 days

Some cookies are used to store personal settings so that they are remembered if you visit again, others are used to help analyse which pages of the website people visit, the screen resolution of the browser and if it is a mobile device etc. These statistics help up better tailor the website to the needs of our visitors.

Cookies also fall into two categories:

• First party cookies that are set by the domain of the website you are visiting, i.e. this website
• Third party cookies that are set by third parties; typically our advertising partners

Like many informational (content) internet websites, this website is monetised through advertising and cookies are used by our advertisers to help manage our advertising campaigns. Without this advertising this website would not be able to operate without charging a membership subscription.

Most browsers allow you to configure how and which cookies you accept but be aware that if you do not accept some cookies it may impair the operation of this website.

Cookies that we use and why we use them

The cookies that we use fall into four main groups as defined by the Electronic Communications Framework.

Strictly necessary (Essential) cookies

Essential cookies are technical cookies that are required for the operation of the website. This website is built using a content management system and without essential cookies this website cannot operate properly. Essential cookies include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas, though on this website, this functionality is currently disabled.

Performance cookies

Performance cookies allow us to collect website usage statistics, for example how many visitors look at a particular page, how they navigate the website, what type of browser they are using, if they are on a mobile device etc. This is often called analytics and on this website we use the industry standard Google Analytics system.

All data is aggregated, there is no personal information stored. We use this data to help improve the content, style and navigation of the website.

Some of our advertisers also use performance cookies to track click-throughs. This is how we are remunerated for any subsequent sales from our affiliate advertisers.

Functionality (Experience) cookies

Experience cookies allow you to set personal preferences on our website, for example the colour scheme or font size settings. If you then revisit our website, these settings are remembered so you do not need to reconfigure them.

Targeting (Marketing) cookies

Marketing cookies are used by our advertising partners. They are used for example to limit the number of times the same advertisement is displayed.

Some advertising networks such as Google also use behavioural cookies to target more relevant advertisements to your particular interests. You can always opt out of behavioural advertising.

If you want more information about behavioural advertising and how to opt out, then visit www.youronlinechoices.eu which is operated by the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB), the industry body for online advertising.