Information relating to Cookies

Cookies are text files containing small amounts of information which are downloaded to your device when you visit a website.  Cookies are then sent back to the originating website on each subsequent visit, or to another website that recognises that cookie.  Cookies are useful because they allow a website to recognise a user's device.  You can find out more information about cookies at: www.allaboutcookies.org and www.youronlinechoices.eu .  For a video about cookies visit www.google.co.uk/goodtoknow/data-on-the-web/cookies.

Cookies do lots of different jobs, like letting you navigate between pages efficiently, remembering your preferences, and generally improving the user experience.  They can also help to ensure that adverts you see online are more relevant to you and your interests.

The cookies in use on this website can be categorised (based on the categories used in the ICC UK Cookie Guide) as either "strictly necessary cookies" or "performance cookies".

Strictly necessary cookies are cookies that 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 some website features will not work.  Strictly necessary cookies used by this site include session cookies which temporarily save information from the account application form (customer status, employment status and bankruptcy status).  The session cookies expire after a browser session and are not stored longer term.

Performance cookies are cookies which collect information about how visitors use a website, for instance which pages visitors go to most often, and if they get error messages from web pages.  These cookies don't collect information that identifies a visitor.  All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous.  It is only used to improve how a website works.  Performance cookies used by this site provide anonymous analytical information on visitors to enhance visitors' experience of the site.