monthly AIDS figures.

And he said an epidemiologist's report -- explaining the pattern of AIDS cases -- would be issued every quarter.

The moves stem from a meeting between Mr. Edness and Chief Medical Officer Dr.

John Cann.

It follows the controversy after Government's Information Services stopped its monthly release.

Dr. Cann had complained of staff shortages in the health and social services department.

And Information Services spokeswoman Mrs. Tina Evans Caines had criticised the past procedure of releasing figures without a report.

She claimed figures by themselves had been "blown out of proportion'', giving a distorted picture on the AIDS problem.

Last night, however, Mr. Edness said he welcomed publicity on AIDS, emphasising the importance of public understanding on the issue.

He also praised the media's past handling of the statistics.