Howell was Under Secretary for Northern Ireland, March to November 1972 and then Minister of State, November 1972 until the election in 1974. He had special responsibilities for Industry and Agriculture. He became Minister of State for Energy in 1974 , just before the General Election. Howell was appointed First Secretary of State for Energy in May 1979 and held the position until September 1981 he was succeeded by Nigel Lawson.). Although he no longer held formal office after the Cabinet reshuffle of 1983 he remained very active both in the House of Commons and internationally in a variety of organisations such as the UK-Japan 2000 Group as an advisor and speaker on Government policy and economic affairs. He did not contest the 1996 election and was elevated to the Lords in 1997.