WHAT is the difference between the NHS and the fire service, apart from the fact that one arrives in an ambulance and the other in a fire engine?

When ministers appear to be planning to privatise chunks of the health service, there is an almighty uproar and demands for the Government to come clean. Yet, when the same true of the fire service – no, when an even clearer plot to privatise is laid bare – there is an eerie silence and most of the media seems to shrug its shoulders.

In recent weeks, Labour MPs have been kicking up a fuss over sneaky new regulations that, it appeared, would force local health chiefs to put all services out to tender.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was accused of breaking promises made two years ago, when the Health Bill controversy was raging – and of “privatisation by the back door”.

On Tuesday, Mr Hunt’s deputy was hauled to the Commons, where he hastily pledged to rewrite the rules to make clear that not all services must be offered to private firms.

One day earlier, this newspaper revealed a letter sent by the fire minister, which – to my eyes at least – exposes identical plans for this publicly-run fire service.

The aim is to repeal legislation that prevents the creation of privately-run fire brigades – giving firms the power to enter premises and, therefore, answer emergencies.

The shake-up would start in Cleveland – which has advanced plans for what is called, laughingly, a public service mutual (PSM) – and then go nationwide.

The letter could not be clearer, short of displaying a picture of a fire fighter in a uniform stamped “G4S” or “Aegis Defence Services” – two likely beneficiaries.

In it, minister Brandon Lewis, argues for the scrapping of a 2004 Act that states “only firefighters employed by a fire and rescue authority have access to emergency powers”.

Pointing out the current clamp on private firms, the letter reads: “Without these powers, the contractor’s employees would be restricted in their ability to fight fires, or deal with other incidents.”

Admittedly, fire authorities would not be forced to employ private firms – but cashstarved Cleveland fears funding cuts may force it to do just that.

There may be good reasons why private fire brigades will deliver a better service, but are ministers brave enough to argue the case? Of course not! Instead, officials put out a dishonest statement that any privatisation claims are “completely untrue”. Again, the parallel with the Health Bill is uncanny.

This really is not good enough. It is time the Liberal Democrats – who forced the “pause” on the NHS revolution – woke up to what’s happening in another 999 service.

On this occasion, there is definitely no smoke without fire.

WE may never know what Michael Gove’s beef is with Durham schools – but he does have one intriguing link with the county.

His controversial, taxpayer-funded adviser is Dominic Cummings, who has failed to deny that he was responsible for abusing critical journalists on Twitter.

Mr Cummings is married to the daughter of a baronet who owns magnificent Chillingham Castle, in Northumberland, a 12th Century monastery.

Oh, and he has experience of schools in Durham. He attended independent Durham School, annual fees...£15,225.