What a desperate, contrived letter, full of Tory soundbites, from Mary Mears (Opinion, January 29).

The National Lottery was set up to provide generously for the arts, sports and regeneration projects - all of which were starved of money under the Conservatives - from money people have "wasted" by buying tickets.

We experienced the real "waste" during the 18 years of Tory government when, while attempting to hoard money for themselves and their rich friends and backers, they wasted peoples' lives through unemployment, home repossessions and loss of businesses.

A successful government allocates Lottery money to things that give people pleasure as well as, out of taxation, ensuring the services on which we all depend are funded properly - which is what the present Labour government is doing.

-Joan Moorhouse, The Brow, Woodingdean