Tessa Jowell said she wanted to secure the BBC's independence

She dismissed suggestions that the government was planning to replace the licence fee as "juvenile" speculation.

Her comments come after a panel advising the Conservatives recommended that the licence fee should be scrapped and the BBC governors abolished.

Ms Jowell said: "I think the licence fee will continue in the absence of a better alternative."

The government is conducting a review of the BBC in the run-up to the renewal of its royal charter - which defines its role and funding - in 2006.

Have your say in a BBC One Panorama debate on the corporation's future

The report drawn up for the Conservatives by ex-BSkyB and Channel 5 executive David Elstein recommended replacing the compulsory fee with a voluntary subscription to BBC services.

Ms Jowell told a BBC-sponsored seminar on the future of the corporation that she was ready to consider Mr Elstein's ideas.

But she added: "Let me be clear that we have criteria against which we will judge contributions.

"These criteria are the extent to which they strengthen the BBC and the extent to which they secure its independence."

The charter review would "seriously engage in looking at alternatives", she added.

"But in the absence of better alternatives the licence fee remains the default option."