Rt. Hon. Dr. Kim Howells was appointed by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom as Chair of Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee from October 2008 to May 2010.  The committee reports direct to the Prime Minister, overseeing the work of MI5, MI6 and GCHQ and playing a key role in monitoring the work of Defence Intelligence and relations between the UK's intelligence and security services and those of its major allies. Most of the Committee's work involves highly classified material and its cross-party membership invariably is chosen from among the most experienced and respected politicians in the Commons and Lords.

Previously, from May 2005 to October 2008, Dr. Howells was Minister for Middle East and South Asia, Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Proliferation, Counter-Narcotics and relations with the United Nations in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.  In this capacity he travelled frequently to the war-zones of Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon, and to the Gulf states, Pakistan, China and Russia.

Dr. Howells chaired the United Nations Security Council on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government, regularly chaired government meetings in locations ranging from Afghanistan and Qatar to Colombia and Peru, and participated in key intergovernmental defence and intelligence policy meetings.  He was also responsible for responding to security emergencies, kidnappings and other threats to United Kingdom citizens and assets around the world, reporting regularly to the House of Commons on his full range of assignments.