Cryptic crossword - The Scotsman 14/11/13

ACROSS

1 Was single-minded about having to produce ticket receipt, at first (8)

5 Standard half-time used by unit measuring distant stars (6)

9 Got mad about one Conservative being doctrinaire (8)

10 Waste time on, getting round a shallow lake (6)

12 Look up to minister before coming to an end (6)

13 Belt used to keep marbles by the end (5)

16 Bird causing some havoc, etc, by the shore (6)

17 First stage-coach needed on screen (8)

20 Was quite definite that 1 down took tins away (8)

21 Striving to take iron back to stronghold (6)

23 Well-informed group could still be defeated (5)

25 Take a chance by starting game at an easy pace (6)

28 Make reparation for last word by heartless doctors (6)

29 Is about to run swiftly to get official dress (8)

30 Comprehensive was full, on the whole (6)

31 Seeks to get at agency workers over time (8)

DOWN

1 Be partial to small fish (4)

2 Desire to move into our general area (4)

3 Accuse the French, at first sight, although they are innocent (9)

4 Attacked royalty, having received some help (6)

6 Out of consideration for a role on stage (5)

7 Store within sailing vessel as place to display one’s goods (4-6)

8 Having caught on, creates arrangement to make things holy (10)

11 Girl lost a place to sleep on moor (5)

14 Did engineer manage to exercise control? (10)

15 Be true to one’s principles, and agree with hospital department (10)

18 Fail to eat out, if forced to fraternise (9)

19 Guided, say, over a coral reef (5)

22 Influence one politician had on legislation (6)

24 In Calais, you finish first renovation of old house (5)

26 Flirt with adventuress to get fixed up (4)

27 Initially, floods even new streams in marshy ground (4)

Wednesday’s solution

Across: 1 Discover, 6 Object, 9 Ecu, 10 Nocturne, 11 Taming, 12 Kiwi, 13 Orientated, 15 Going concern, 18 Predominated, 21 Supervisor, 23 Oily, 24 Pen-nib, 26 Espresso, 27 Lug, 28 Staple, 29 Gunmetal.

Down: 2 Ironic, 3 Cutting edge, 4 Verso, 5 Reeling, 6 Out-and-out, 7 Jam, 8 Canberra, 14 Archdiocese, 16 Immovable, 17 Argument, 19 Nest egg, 20 Alaska, 22 Ripen, 25 Nap.