Bank of England's Carney speaks in UK parliament

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney and other members of the central bank's Monetary Policy Committee spoke to lawmakers in Britain's parliament on Tuesday. Below are highlights of their comments.

CORONAVIRUS

"The Bank of England's role is to help UK businesses and households manage through an economic shock that could prove large but will ultimately be temporary.

"The bank will take all necessary steps to support the UK economy and financial system consistent with its statutory responsibilities.

"We are monitoring the situation closely across all our functions and ensuring all necessary contingency plans are in place.

"The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is assessing the economic impacts and considering the policy implications of various possible scenarios, including the extent to which supply disruptions have aggregate demand consequences via cash flow, cost and availability of finance, as well as confidence effects.

"The Financial Policy Committee (FPC) is examining macro-financial impacts including spillovers to market functioning and how to address any possible constraints on financing to UK businesses and households that might emerge.

"The FPC, MPC and PRC (Prudential Regulation Committee) met jointly yesterday to review a range of macroeconomic and financial system scenarios and their implications, and they will continue to meet as needed and will act as appropriate.

"Andrew Bailey and I are in continual contact on the whole range of issues consistent with our statutory duties and in order to ensure a smooth transition on 16 March.

"The Chancellor and I have had a series of discussions, and Bank officials are in regular contact with their counterparts at HM Treasury and the FCA.

"We are in frequent contact with our international peers, including at the G7, G20 and IMF."