Cookies on GOV.UK

Cookies are files saved on your phone, tablet or computer when you visit a website.

We use cookies to store information about how you use the GOV.UK website, such as the pages you visit.

Cookie settings

We use 2 types of cookie. You can choose which cookies you're happy for us to use.

Cookies that measure website use

We use Google Analytics to measure how you use the website so we can improve it based on user needs. We do not allow Google to use or share the data about how you use this site.

Google Analytics sets cookies that store anonymised information about:

  • how you got to the site
  • the pages you visit on GOV.UK and government digital services, and how long you spend on each page
  • what you click on while you're visiting the site
Name Purpose Expiry
_ga These help us count how many people visit GOV.UK and other government digital services by tracking if you've visited before 2 years
_gid These help us count how many people visit GOV.UK and other government digital services by tracking if you've visited before 24 hours
_gat Used to limit request to Google Analytics 10 mins
_ga_6BY67W4HKN Used by Google Analytics to find and track an individual session with your device 2 years

Strictly necessary cookies

These essential cookies do things like remember your progress through a form (for example a licence application)

They always need to be on.