Cookies policy
Cookies are small files placed on your device that help our website function properly, remember your preferences, and improve your experience.
We use cookies to:
- Ensure the website functions correctly (essential cookies)
- Measure site usage and improve content (analytics cookies)
- Support embedded media like videos (third-party media cookies)
Essential cookies are always set when you visit the site. Non-essential cookies (analytics or third-party media) are only set if you give consent via our cookie control panel.
Essential Cookies
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| Name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| CookieControl | Stores your cookie preferences | 1 year |
| lumberjack_session | Maintains your session on the website | Session |
Analytics Cookies
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| Name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Differentiates users and counts unique visitors | 38 months |
| _ga_N33DT0ADD | Tracks user interactions for Google Analytics | 38 months |
| _gid | Tracks user interactions and session behavior | 24 hours |
| _gat_UA-45460328-1 | Google Analytics throttling to limit request rate | 1 minute |
| _gcl_au | Google AdSense experiment cookie | 3 months |
| _hjSession_1735123 | Hotjar session tracking for analytics | Session |
| _hjSessionUser_1735123 | Hotjar persistent ID for returning users | 1 year |
Third-Party Media Cookies
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| Name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| __Secure-ROLLOUT_TOKEN | YouTube cookie used for video service | Persistent |
| __Secure-YEC | YouTube cookie used for video service | Persistent |
| VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE | Estimates bandwidth and video quality on embedded videos | 179 days |
| VISITOR_PRIVACY_METADATA | YouTube privacy metadata | Persistent |
| YSC | Registers a unique ID to track which YouTube videos you’ve watched | Session |
How to manage cookies
- Essential cookies are always active to allow the site to function.
- Analytics and third-party media cookies are only set after you give consent via the cookie banner/control panel.
- You can manage or block cookies using your browser settings.
- For third-party cookies, you can also opt out via:
Google Analytics opt-out
Hotjar opt-out
YouTube privacy info.
Why we use cookies
- Essential cookies: allow the website to work properly, including navigation and session management.
- Analytics cookies: help us understand how visitors interact with the site to improve content and navigation.
- Third-party media cookies: enable embedded videos and track basic video interactions, while respecting user privacy via the no-cookie URL.
Contact
If you have questions about our use of cookies or wish to withdraw consent, you can contact us:
Email: dpa@gov.scot
Address: Data Protection Officer, Data Protection and Information Assets Team, V Spur, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh EH11 3XD