TORIES have attacked government minister Janet Anderson for "dropping a clanger" over the national lottery.

The culture, media and sports minister's Tory shadow Peter Ainsworth accused her of making an "ignorant and incompetent mistake" when she said that the "Government always have been, and still are, committed to a not-for-profit lottery."

He said that this was either a major mistake or a U-turn on government policy.

Mr Ainsworth said the Rossendale and Darwen MP's comments in a debate on the lottery at Westminster went further than the Labour manifesto's commitment to "seek a not-for-profit operator" to follow Camelot.

Mr Ainsworth said Mrs Anderson's comments prejudiced the decision-making process by suggesting that Richard Branson's "not-for-profit" people's lottery should win over a streamlined Camelot proposal which halved profit margins and reduced payments to executives.

He said: "Janet has either made a major change in government policy or dropped a clanger

"Her comments suggest that the Government have already prejudged the decision of who will win the new lottery licence, due to be awarded in May/June of this year. "There is a risk that they may prejudice the decision of the National Lottery Commission."

A culture media and sport department spokesman said Mrs Anderson's comments were in line with the manifesto commitment to "seek an efficient not-for-profit operator" giving the maximum return for good causes.

They could have no influence on the decision by the National Lottery Commission which had to make an independent decision based on the criteria in the legislation which ministers could neither interfere with nor overturn.

Mrs Anderson sent a letter to Mr Ainsworth "clarifying" her comments.

She said: "The Government has maintained the policy of seeking and welcoming any bids from efficient, not-for-profit operators. However, as I said during my speech, the selection of the next operator is a matter for the National Lottery Commission, not the Government.

"Subject to ensuring that players are protected and the Lottery is run with all due propriety, the Commission will award the next licence to the bidder likely to raise the most for good causes."