A government that wants unused industrial capacity available for war must pay to preserve it. One option is public ownership with plant kept in reserve; another is enough work or financial support to make retention worthwhile for private firms. Tax concessions and payments covering bills and employment are suggested as possible arrangements, with their relative cost depending on the agreement. Private firms otherwise have a reason to shed unprofitable capacity, while the Treasury may regard profitable production and taxation as the national benefit. Britain's shortage of heavy-armour capacity when rearmament accelerated is linked to the long gap in capital-ship orders. The United States faced a similar rebuilding problem but had until 1941 before entering the war and could expand without bombing at home.
Notable Point · 25:25-27:11
Keeping heavy-armour production available for war
Preserving armour-making capacity requires public ownership or enough paid work to keep private firms' plant and skilled workers available.