Cookie Information

This website uses cookies to store information within your web browser. Where possible we avoid storing any sensitive or tracking information in these cookies.

In accordance with the EU Cookie Directive, we now provide information about how we use these cookies. Where possible, we also provide the means to control whether these cookies are stored. Ironically the mechanism used to control cookie usage has to use a cookie to remember your preference.

Browser Settings

Any cookies generated by this website may be safely blocked or deleted using your web browser settings, but this may impact the performance, functionality and services provided by this website.

Categories of cookies

We have sorted the cookies used on this website into four categories.

(1) Strictly necessary

These cookies are essential in order to enable you to move around the website and use its features, such as accessing secure areas of the website. Without these cookies the services you have asked for like shopping baskets or electronic billing, cannot be provided.

Our website does not work without these cookies. If you do not accept the use of these cookies please leave the website.

Here are some examples of the Strictly Necessary cookies we use.

Feature Cookie Name Purpose Expiry
Session ASP.NET_SessionId This cookie is essential for user sessions. Http Session only
Server cache _ck This cookie relates to the caching mechanism within our content management system. 7 days
User authentication restinfo This cookie is essential for user authentication with the website. Http only, 365 days
User authentication restchks This cookie is essential for user authentication with the website. Http only, 365 days
User authentication ImPersonData This cookie is essential for user authentication with the website. 50 days
User authentication ImPersonDataChk This cookie is essential for user authentication with the website. 50 days
User authentication la This cookie is essential for user authentication with the website. 50 days
User authentication AuthCookie This cookie is essential for user authentication with the website. Http Session only
User preference LanguageCode This cookie may be used to remember the website language selected by a user, but is required to present the website in the preferred language. 365 days
Shopping basket basket_bc This cookie is essential for our site to provide the shopping basket facilities. 356 days
Shopping basket basket_ac This cookie is essential for our site to provide the shopping basket facilities. 356 days
Shopping basket basket_id This cookie is essential for our site to provide the shopping basket facilities. 360 days
Cookie Settings CookieConsent This cookie is essential for our site to remember your cookie preferences. 365 days

(2) Performance

These cookies collect information about how visitors use a website, for instance which pages visitors go to most often and if they get error messages. These cookies don't collect information that identifies a visitor. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous.

To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites visit http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. Alternatively, if you do not accept the use of these cookies please leave the website.

Here are some examples of the Performance Cookies we use.

Feature Cookie Name Purpose Expiry
Google Analytics _utma This cookie is typically written to the browser upon the first visit to your site from that web browser. If the cookie has been deleted by the browser operator, and the browser subsequently visits your site, a new __utma cookie is written with a different unique ID. This cookie is used to determine unique visitors to this site and it is updated with each page view. Additionally, this cookie is provided with a unique ID that Google Analytics uses to ensure both the validity and accessibility of the cookie as an extra security measure. 2 years
Google Analytics _utmb This cookie is used to establish and continue a user session with this site. When a user views a page on this site, the Google Analytics code attempts to update this cookie. If it does not find the cookie, a new one is written and a new session is established. Each time a user visits a different page on this website, the cookie is updated to expire in 30 minutes, thus continuing a single session for as long as user activity continues within 30-minute intervals. This cookie expires when a user pauses on a page on this site for longer than 30 minutes. 30 minutes
Google Analytics _utmc Historically, this cookie operated in conjunction with the __utmb cookie to determine whether or not to establish a new session for the user. For backwards compatibility purposes with sites still using the urchin.js tracking code, this cookie will continue to be written and will expire when the user exits the browser. Session only
Google Analytics _utmz This cookie stores the type of referral used by the visitor to reach this site, whether via a direct method, a referring link, a website search, or a campaign such as an ad or an email link. The cookie is updated with each page view to your site. 6 months

(3) Functionality

These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make such as your username, language or the region you are in and provide enhanced, more personal features. For instance, a website may be able to provide you with local weather reports or traffic news by storing in a cookie the region in which you are currently located. These cookies can also be used to remember changes you have made to text size, fonts and other parts of web pages you can customise. They may also be used to provide services you have asked for such as watching a video or commenting on a blog. The information these cookies collect may be anonymised and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites.

You can control whether or not these cookies are used, but preventing them may mean we can't offer you some services, and will reduce the support we can offer you. It's also possible that preventing these cookie stops us remembering that you didn't want a specific service.

Here are some examples of the Functionality Cookies we use.

Feature Cookie Name Purpose Expiry
User preference PageFontSize This cookie may be used to store a font size preference selected by a user. 365 days
User preference PSize This cookie may be used to store a page width preference selected by a user. 365 days
User preference ThemeName This cookie may be used to store the name of an alternate website theme selected by a user. 365 days
User preference GalleryPageSize This cookie may be used to store the number of items to display per page, when selected by a user. 356 days
User preference miwebClientTab This cookie is used to remember a tab selected by a user. 99 days
User preference LanguageCode This cookie may be used to remember the website language selected by a user, but is required to present the website in the preferred language. 365 days

(4) Targeting

'Targeting' cookies are linked to services provided by third parties, such as 'Like' buttons and 'Share' buttons. The third party provides these services in return for recognising that you have visited our website.

We use 'Targeting' cookies to Link to social networks like Facebook, who may subsequently use information about your visit to target advertising to you on other websites.

You can control whether or not these cookies are used, but preventing them may stop us from offering you some services. All of these cookies are managed by third parties, and you may alternatively use the third parties' own tools to prevent these cookies.

Here are some examples of the Targeting Cookies we use.

Feature Cookie Name Purpose Expiry
ShareThis *.sharethis.com Enables link sharing tools on specific pages of our website. The cookies may store anonymous data and your favourite preferences. 4 hours - 1 year
AddThis *.adddthis.com Enables link sharing tools on specific pages of our website. The cookies may store anonymous data and your favourite preferences. 30 days - 2 years
Twitter *.twitter.com Enables the Tweet button on certain pages of our site. The cookies may store anonymous session data and if your computer is already logged into Twitter, may contain session or other data identifying the logged in account.  
Facebook *.facebook.com Enables the Facebook Like button on certain pages of our site that allows you to easily Like a specific page.  
Google+ apis.google.com Enables the Google +1 button on certain pages of our website that allows you to easily share it on your Google+ profile.  

How to delete cookies

Internet Explorer
1. Select the Tools menu 
2. Select Delete Browsing History 
3. Select the Cookies checkbox 
4. Select Delete

Google Chrome
1. Navigate to the Cookies section of your Chrome browser
2. Select Remove All

Firefox
1. Select the FireFox menu 
2. Select the Privacy tab 
3. Select the History section 
4. Select Remove Individual Cookies

Safari 
1. Select the Gears menu 
2. Select Reset Safari
3. Select the Remove all website data checkbox
4. Select Reset

Further reading

Information about cookies
Useful information about cookies can be found at:
http://www.allaboutcookies.org

Internet Advertising Bureau
A guide to behavioural advertising and online privacy has been produced by the internet advertising industry which can be found at:
http://www.youronlinechoices.eu

International Chamber of Commerce United Kingdom
Information on the ICC (UK) UK cookie guide can be found on the ICC website section:
http://www.international-chamber.co.uk/our-expertise/digitaleconomy