(7) Where it is necessary to deploy any part of the Defence Force of Malawi to counter a threat to Malawi or to any of its allies, the President shall declare a state of national defence and shall inform the National Assembly promptly and in appropriate detail. (8) If a declaration of a state of national defence made under subsection (7) is not approved by the National Assembly within seven days after the declaration, the state of national defence shall lapse immediately after fourteen days. (9) Where the National Assembly is not sitting at the time of the declaration of a state of national defence, the President shall summon an extraordinary meeting of the National Assembly within seven days to inform the National Assembly of the declaration. [Ch0000s162]162. The Defence and Security Committee of the National Assembly (1) There shall be a Defence and Security Committee of the National Assembly which shall represent proportionally the political parties having seats in the National Assembly, and shall have such powers and functions as may be conferred upon it by this Constitution and an Act of Parliament. (2) The Defence and Security Committee may be assembled at any time, notwithstanding that Parliament stands adjourned and, where Parliament stands dissolved, shall continue to be constituted until such time as a new session of Parliament begins and a new Defence and Security Committee is appointed but no member shall otherwise hold office for more than one year. CHAPTER XVII PRISONS [Ch0000s163]163. The Malawi Prisons Service 13 of 2001There shall be the Malawi Prisons Service which shall consist of all penal institutions, labour camps, special and secure schools and other institutions that are used to house, detain and rehabilitate persons sentenced to imprisonment in whatever form such imprisonment may take, but shall not include holding cells in police stations. [Ch0000s164]164. The Chief Commissioner for Prisons (1) There shall be a Chief Commissioner for Prisons who shall be responsible for the Malawi Prisons Service and whose office shall be a public office with such powers, functions and duties as are conferred on it by this Constitution and an Act of Parliament. (2) The principal responsibilities of the Chief Commissioner for Prisons shall be to ensure the proper and efficient administration of the penal institutions that comprise the Malawi Prisons Service, subject to and in accordance with— (a) the protection of rights and other provisions of this Constitution or any other law;