Ms Akins had attended every session of the Select Committee, in addition to winning two adjournment debates of her own. She also took part in all the other waterways adjournment debates, had tabled many questions on behalf of the inland waterways movement, had frequently met with the minister, spoken at numerous IWA meetings and had been a tireless campaigner for the Caldon Canal in her own constituency, including walking a horse drawn boat in the rain, and getting soaked for the cause.