01What cookies are and how we use them
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently and to provide information to the site operator. this research tool uses cookies for a limited set of purposes: to ensure the site functions correctly, to remember your preferences where applicable, and to understand in aggregate terms how visitors navigate and use the site.
We do not use cookies to build profiles of individual users for advertising purposes, and we do not share cookie data with advertising networks. The cookies we use fall into two main categories: strictly necessary cookies, which are required for the site to function and cannot be switched off, and analytics cookies, which help us understand site usage in anonymised, aggregate form. We do not use any cookies that are not described in this policy.
02Managing your cookie preferences
When you first visit our website, you will be presented with a cookie notice that allows you to accept or decline non-essential cookies. You can change your preferences at any time by returning to the cookie settings panel, which is accessible from the footer of every page. If you decline analytics cookies, your visit will not be included in our aggregate site usage data.
You can also manage cookies directly through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to view, delete and block cookies from specific websites. Please note that blocking strictly necessary cookies may affect the functionality of the site. Instructions for managing cookies in the most common browsers are available on the website of the Information Commissioner's Office.
03Third-party cookies and updates to this policy
Where we use third-party services to support site analytics, those services may set their own cookies subject to their own privacy and cookie policies. We select third-party providers carefully and require that they handle any data collected through our site in a manner consistent with applicable UK data protection law. Links to the relevant third-party policies are available on request.
We review this cookie policy regularly and update it when our use of cookies changes or when required by law. The date of the most recent update is shown at the bottom of this page. If we make material changes to the way we use cookies, we will notify you through the cookie notice on the site. Continued use of the site following such notification constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.