(a) whether Consumer Price Index Number with 2001 as the base year has been released by the Labour Bureau for different centers including Mumbai;
(b) if so, the principles on which the linking factor for conversion of the new index series into 1982 series has been worked out;
(c) whether the charge made by employers about the inflated linking factor has been critically examined by the Labour Bureau; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI OSCAR FERNANDES)
(a): Yes, Sir.
(b): The linking factors have been worked out as per the methodology approved by the Technical Advisory Committee on Statistics of Prices and Cost of Living (TAC on SPCL) by using arithmetic conversion method, which are the ratios of the average monthly Consumer Price Indices for Industrial Workers with base 1982 = 100 to that of base 2001 = 100 for the latest 12 months (January 2005 to December 2005), preceding January 2006; the month of introduction of new series.
(c): The Linking Factors worked out and released alongwith the index for conversion of new series indices on base 2001 = 100 to earlier series i.e. 1982 = 100 were thoroughly examined to ensure that these calculations were in accordance with the methodology approved by the TAC on SPCL.
(d): Does not arise.