Who is responsible
Ottervelvetran Ltd is responsible for personal information it processes in connection with this website and editorial correspondence. Contact [email protected] or write to 9 Castle Street, Inverness IV2 3DU, United Kingdom. Company no. SC804267.
Browsing and technical information
Delivering a website involves technical information such as an IP address, requested page, browser information and request time. Hosting providers may process access and security logs to deliver pages, investigate faults and protect the service. We do not use the supplied site code to run advertising trackers, analytics beacons or behavioral profiles.
Our basis for necessary service-security processing is our legitimate interest in providing a reliable, secure editorial website. We limit information to what is appropriate for that purpose.
The briefing worksheet
The worksheet processes your selected topic and question in your browser. Its code does not submit those fields to us, place them in a URL or save them to browser storage. The preview exists in the current page. Your browser may retain form entries through its own features.
The copy control writes text to your clipboard only after you activate it. The download control creates a local text file. Clipboard contents and downloaded files are managed by your device and may remain after you leave the page. Avoid entering sensitive personal information, and remove local copies yourself when no longer needed.
If you email us
If you choose to email the desk, we receive the address, message contents, attachments and associated email metadata you send. We use these to answer your inquiry, assess corrections and maintain appropriate correspondence records. Our usual basis is our legitimate interest in responding to readers and maintaining editorial accuracy; legal obligations may apply to some records.
Please do not send payment details, identity documents or medical records. We keep ordinary correspondence only as long as needed for the inquiry and relevant follow-up. Records needed for a legal obligation, dispute or documented editorial correction may be retained longer for that specific purpose.
Service providers and external links
Hosting and email service providers may process information on our behalf as needed to provide their services. Information may also be disclosed where legally required or necessary to establish or defend legal rights. We do not sell reader information.
Where processing involves an international transfer subject to UK data protection law, appropriate safeguards are required, such as an adequacy decision or approved contractual safeguards. Contact us for information relevant to a particular request.
External reference websites have their own privacy practices. They receive information when you choose to visit them. Local photographs, styles and scripts on this site do not require third-party content services.
Your rights and choices
Depending on the circumstances, you may request access, correction, erasure, restriction or portability of your information, or object to processing based on legitimate interests. Where consent is used, you may withdraw it without affecting earlier lawful processing. Rights are subject to applicable conditions and exemptions.
Contact the desk to exercise a right. We may need proportionate information to verify your identity. You may also complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office.
Read the Cookies notice for the distinction between cookies, local storage and the worksheet. Material changes to our practices will be reflected in this notice.