They also agreed to the setting up of a parallel chamber in Westminster Hall, as well as the continuance of changes in Commons hours and procedures.

The trials, part of a modernisation drive supported by the government and the opposition, will carry on through the whole of the next parliamentary session.

It means Commons sittings will continue to start at 1130 BST on Thursdays rather than 1430 BST, and finish around 1930 BST rather than 2230 BST.

Standing committees will also continue to have greater flexibility in setting their own sitting times.

Paddy Tipping: New changes are a "success"

The reforms were brought forward earlier this year despite opposition from Speaker Betty Boothroyd and some MPs.

During a debate on the reforms, Deputy Commons leader Paddy Tipping said the changes to Thursday sittings had been a success.

"For many members, the new sittings have enabled a better balance to be struck between Westminster duties and constituency commitments," he said.

However, Shadow Commons leader Sir George Young said he had some reservations, including the apparent "downgrading" of Thursdays in the parliamentary week.

For the Liberal Democrats, Andrew Stunell backed the continuation of the Thursday sittings experiment, saying it seemed to be "introducing more sensible working practises".

But Conservative former minister Eric Forth said: "A large number of members, if not most, don't particularly like being here.

One MP suggested a "whip-round" for a new Mace

"I sometimes wonder why they went to such great effort to be elected."

He also said the "hidden casualty" was Fridays.

"What has actually happened is that the number of Fridays on which the House sits has been reduced quite dramatically, apart from those allocated to Private Members' Bills," he said.

Mr Tipping then introduced a motion proposing parallel sittings in Westminster Hall should begin on 30 November.

Labour's Andrew Mackinlay asked whether the Westminster Hall debates could be described as taking place in the Commons if the Mace was not present.

It had been important as the symbol of the House for centuries, he told MPs.

He added: "We could have a whip-round and we could buy a new one, a special one."

The proposal for parallel sittings was approved without a vote.