Website of the UK government

Using Directgov

Directgov is maintained for your personal use and viewing. The access and use of Directgov featuring these terms and conditions constitutes your acceptance of these terms and conditions. They take effect from the date on which you first use this website.

You agree to use this site only for lawful purposes, and in a manner that does not infringe the rights of, or restrict or inhibit the use and enjoyment of, this site by any third party. Such restriction or inhibition includes, without limitation, conduct which is unlawful, or which may harass or cause distress or inconvenience to any person, and the transmission of obscene or offensive content or disruption of normal flow of dialogue within this site.

You are prohibited from posting or transmitting via this website any unlawful, defamatory, obscene, offensive or scandalous material, or any material that constitutes or encourages conduct that would be considered a criminal offence, likely to give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violates any law. We will fully co-operate with any law enforcement authorities or court order lawfully requesting or directing us to disclose the identity of anyone posting any such information or materials on this website.

Online government services or transactions

When using Directgov you may access an online government service or transaction that is delivered by another government department or agency. Each of these services will have its own terms and conditions or end user licences that apply only to that service. Users of any service should ensure they have read the relevant terms and conditions before completing that transaction.

Directgov on your mobile

Directgov does not charge you to use any of its mobile services. However, your mobile network operator may charge you to access the internet on your phone. Costs will vary depending on your phone contract so check with your operator to find out about tariffs.

Linking to Directgov

Directgov welcomes and encourages other websites to link to the information that is hosted on these pages.  You do not have to ask permission to link but We can provide wording and linking graphics.  Follow the link below for more details.

• Help with linking to Directgov

Using Directgov content

The material featured on this website is subject to Crown copyright protection unless otherwise indicated.  Read the Crown copyright page for more information.

• © Crown copyright

Disclaimer

The Directgov website and material relating to government information, products and services (or to third party information, products and services), is provided 'as is', without any representation or endorsement made and without warranty of any kind whether express or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, compatibility, security, completeness and accuracy.

We do not warrant or represent that the functions contained in the material available on this site will be uninterrupted or error free, that defects will be corrected, or that this site or the server that makes it available are free of viruses or represent the full functionality, accuracy or reliability of the materials.

In no event will We be liable for any expense, loss or damage including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any expense, loss or damage whatsoever arising from use, or loss of use, of data, or loss of profits, arising out of or in connection with the use of www.direct.gov.uk, or reliance on its content.

No data transmission over the internet can be guaranteed as totally secure.  Whilst We strive to protect such information, we do not warrant and cannot ensure the security of any information which you transmit to us.  Accordingly, any information which you transmit to us is transmitted at your own risk.

The Directgov website is not a substitute for independent professional advice and users should obtain any appropriate professional advice relevant to their particular circumstances.

The material on this website may include the views or recommendations of third parties, which do not necessarily reflect the views of HM Government, or indicate its commitment to a particular course of action. We assume no responsibility or liability arising in respect of any such third party material.

Governing law

These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising under these terms and conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Links to external websites

Links on Directgov will lead to other websites which are not under our control. We are not responsible for the content of any linked site. Listing and linking should not be taken as an endorsement of any kind and we accept no liability in respect of the content. We cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time and have no control over the availability of the linked pages.

Virus protection

We make every effort to check and test material at all stages of production. You must take your own precautions to ensure that the process which You employ for accessing this website does not expose You to the risk of viruses, malicious computer code or other forms of interference which may damage your own computer system. It is always wise for You to run an anti-virus program on all material downloaded from the internet.

We cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, disruption or damage to your data or your computer system which may occur whilst using material derived from this website.

Variation

We may at any time revise these terms and conditions without notice. Please check regularly. Continued use of the Directgov website after a change has been made is your acceptance of the change.

General

We accept no liability for any failure to comply with these terms and conditions where such failure is due to circumstance beyond our reasonable control.

If We waive any rights available to us under these terms and conditions on one occasion, this does not means that those rights will automatically be waived on any other occasion.

If any of these terms and conditions are held to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal for any reason, the remaining terms and conditions shall nevertheless continue in full force.