Monday 9 March

Across

9 Spread moist leaves out (5) 10 Top female Republican with manic air enters contest (9) 11 Department head in charge of exclusive sea food (5,4) 12 Old Man Time’s desire (5) 13 Administrative division or dividing branch (7) 15 Divorcee with attitude: dad’s first to be denounced! (7) 17 Tree having less on top is topped (5) 18/3 Stop druggie being ultimate beneficiary of software (3,4) 20 Pan’s treasure about to be returned? (5) 22 Disputed area’s reported money, pure and simple (7) 25 Inclined to prattle? Try second drink (friendly tip) (7) 26 Mastermind introduction of baby shower (5) 27 Crafty assessor of tax, one covered by scheme (4,5) 30 Virtue of one-time payment made by conquered country? (9) 31 Cat’s powerless to make sudden leap (5)

Down

1 ‘Doctor of Retraction’ gets cross (4) 2 Given a fancy coat, delivers bananas (8) 4 Drink time – oh, so riotous! (8) 5 One subsequently meets earth goddess (6) 6 Try to sell briars as tuning aids? (5,5) 7 Wine, gallons, at parties (6) 8 Attempt to extract everything from onion (4) 13 Champion outside left, pretty grim (5) 14 Realistic reproduction of Roman tunic (10) 16 Consider bylaws essentially old hat (5) 19 Have a hippie liking for drugs Edward’s taken in (8) 21 Paltry thieves start plundering (8) 23 Cabin aired by working seaman? (6) 24 Good to break poor tutor’s rough spirit (6) 26 Tack produced by supporter at United’s final (4) 28 Kitty gets wind up (4) 29 Plane possibly needs way to ditch wings (4)