Cookies
Small files (known as ’cookies’) are put onto your computer to collect information about how you browse the site.
Cookies are used to:
- measure how you use the website so it can be updated and improved based on your needs
- remember the notifications you’ve seen so that you’re not shown them again
GOV.UK cookies aren’t used to identify you personally.
You’ll normally see a message on the site before a cookie is stored on your computer.
Find out more about how to manage cookies (opens in a new tab).
Your Government Gateway cookie preferences
How our cookies are used
Measuring website usage (Google Analytics)
Google Analytics software collects information about how you use the site. This is done to help make sure the site is meeting the needs of its users and to help make improvements.
Google Analytics stores information about:
- the pages you visit - how long you spend on each page
- how you got to the site
- what you click on while you’re visiting the site
We don’t collect or store your personal information (eg your name or address) so this information can’t be used to identify who you are.
Google isn’t allowed to use or share our analytics data.
The following cookies are used:
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _basga_gid | This helps us identify how you use GOV.UK so we can make the site better | 24 hours |
| _basga | This helps us identify how you use GOV.UK so we can make the site better | 2 years |
Sessions
A cookie is set to record your session activity.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| apsc | Stores session data | When you close your browser |
| wsc | Stores session data | When you close your browser |
| mfarm | Remembers the device and browser you are using and tells us not to ask you for access codes | 7 days |
| hcc | Stores session data | When you close your browser |
Language Selection
A cookie is stored to ensure the website displays text in your chosen language.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| lang | This stores whether you have chosen to see content in English or Welsh | When you close your browser |
Cookie consent
You will see a cookie consent banner when you first visit. A cookie is stored so that your computer knows you’ve answered it and knows not to ask again.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| aoc | Saves your cookie consent preferences | 1 year |
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 additional cookies and, if so, will have their own cookies policy.