A small quantity of cedar has gone missing during the demolition of the former slave-built Ridgeway House, which is being levelled to make way for the new Berkeley Insitute.

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott said on Friday some floor joists had not been accounted for, but they may yet turn up when the demolition is completed.

He said the missing wood was not valuable and more than 90 percent of the cedar was safely stored with Works and Engineering.

"It is a miniscule amount but the balance of the inventory is with Works and Engineering. It's not a great amount, it could have been scrapped, and it could yet show up.'' No decision has yet been taken about what to do with the valuable cedar salvaged from Ridgeway house, he added.