Cookies

This service puts small files (known as ‘cookies’) onto your computer in order to:

• remember what messages you’ve seen so you’re not shown them again
• understand how you use the service so we can update and improve it
• temporarily store information you enter to support your application

The cookies we use don’t identify you personally.

Find out how to manage cookies

Introductory cookie message

When you first use the service we show a ‘cookie message’. We then store a cookie on your computer so it knows not to show this message again.

Name	Purpose	Expires
seen_cookie_message	Lets us know you’ve already seen our cookie message	1 month

Measuring site use

We use Google Analytics to collect information about how you use this service. This helps us check it’s meeting your needs and make improvements.

Google Analytics stores information about:

• how you got to the site
• pages you visit and how long you spend on them
• what you click on

No personal details are stored with this information, so you can’t be identified.

Name	Purpose	Expires
_ga	Used to distinguish users	2 years
_gat	Used to throttle request rate	10 minutes

Google isn’t allowed to use or share our analytics data.

You can opt out of Google Analytics cookies

Session cookies

Session cookies are downloaded each time you visit the service and deleted when you close your browser. They help the service to work properly.

Name	Purpose	Expires
hmbrp.sid	Stores a session ID and temporarily stores data you enter to enable you to make an application	When you close your browser
hof-wizard-sc	Tells us when your session starts so we can tell you if it expires	When you close your browser
hof-cookie-check	Tells us you have already allowed cookies so we don’t need to ask you again	When you close your browser
lang	Used to remember your language preference when you continue to the next screen in the form	When you close your browser