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Privacy policy and cookies information

What information will we collect about you and how we will use them?

We will collect personal information about website usage only. This information will be gathered through cookies (see the section on Cookies below).

We use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. to understand how visitors engage with our website and so we can improve it.

We will not sell, license or trade this information without your consent. We will not share your personal information with others unless they are acting under our instructions or we are required to do so by law.

Cookies

Cookies are text files placed on your computer to help us analyse how users use our site. A cookie is a small data file able to track the online movements of an individual. This information could potentially be used to build an online profile of individuals and uniquely locate them in the world.

This site is using two type of cookies – navigation cookies and cookies stored by Google Analytics (see sections below).

If you prefer not to receive cookies while browsing our website, you can set your browser to refuse all cookies that are stored on your computer; the above websites tell you how to do this. You do not need to have cookies turned on to use or navigate through most parts of our website, although some functionality may be lost.

Navigation cookies

Our website uses session cookies to ensure that you have a good experience. These cookies contain a unique number, your ‘session ID’, which allows our server to recognise your computer and ‘remember’ what you’ve done on the site. The benefits of this are:

  • You are able to use interactive elements of the site, such as forms
  • Our server can distinguish between your computer and other users, so you can see the information that you have requested.

When you close your browser the cookie will be deleted and the site will ‘forget’.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to help us to understand how you make use of our content and work out how we can make things better. These cookies follow your progress through our website, collecting anonymous data on where you have come from, which pages you visit, and how long you spend on the site. This data is then stored by Google in order to create reports. These cookies do not store your personal data.

The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website, including your IP address, may be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google may use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for us and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above.

The Google website contains further information about Analytics and a copy of Google’s privacy policy.

The following table gives details of the different types of Google Analytics cookies that are used on this website.

Type of cookie Cookie name How long does it stay on my computer? What is it for? What information does it contain?
Google Analytics _utma For two years from when it is set Automatically set when visiting any of our pages. Enables the use of the Google Analytics web statistics service. These cookies store anonymous data on your visit to the Reading website.
Google Analytics _utmb For 30 minutes after your last activity on the site Automatically set when visiting any of our pages. Enables the use of the Google Analytics web statistics service. These cookies store anonymous data on your visit to the Reading website.
Google Analytics _utmc When you close your browser Automatically set when visiting any of our pages. Enables the use of the Google Analytics web statistics service. These cookies store anonymous data on your visit to the Reading website.
Google Analytics _utmz For six months from when it is set Automatically set when visiting any of our pages. Enables the use of the Google Analytics web statistics service. These cookies store anonymous data on your visit to the Reading website