Cryptic crossword - The Scotsman 17/10/13

ACROSS

1 Is concerned to take a boy back, having pampered him (8)

5 Left before one having enough strength to be responsible (6)

9 Step up into the batsman’s area (8)

10 Is about to turn over, in order to make good (6)

12 A couple of painters led first trek to mountain top (6)

13 Coming next, in days to come (5)

16 Looked everywhere for perennial firmly established (6)

17 Admitted Conservative had to end up with code (8)

20 Did a foster parent take care of boy, on paper? (8)

21 Agree to import a war-horse (6)

23 Did Celia go astray in Wonderland? (5)

25 Blair wrote alternative properly (6)

28 Thoughtful soldiers recruited volunteers online (6)

29 In Italy, cabal was manoeuvred into a grand church (8)

30 Composed some calm and collected characters (6)

31 Coteries could turn out to be rather mysterious (8)

DOWN

1 Small firm, in the end, held some petty cash (4)

2 Right type of hard water to grow cereal (4)

3 Read about shape formed by the advance guard (9)

4 Follow on with right to dismiss all doubt (6)

6 To fish with a line may be just the thing (5)

7 Had to let doubt fester, before it was destroyed (7,3)

8 In the past, harbour tax applied to goods going abroad ... (6,4)

11 ... and sharpen up first ship returning to harbour (5)

14 Schedules performances for broadcasts (10)

15 Ending loan arranged for neutral state (3-7)

18 Reasonable sort, initially, left with a disability (9)

19 Was an ocean-going vessel dug out? (5)

22 Promised to put Sunday clothes on son (6)

24 Legislate for some statesmen acting honourably (5)

26 Support foundation of breakwater (4)

27 Get cosmetic item, thanks to £100 (4)

Wednesday’s solution

Across: 1 Witch doctor, 9 Olive, 10 Aviation, 12 Engraft, 13 Drive-in, 14 Raita, 15 Low church, 18 Spin dryer, 20 Basin, 21 Immense, 24 Insider, 25 Oratorio, 26 Bonus, 27 Street-level.

Down: 2 Ikebana, 3 Chantilly, 4 Dried, 5 Catfish, 6 Ozone, 7 Voyeuristic, 8 Linguini, 11 Enchantress, 16 Worrisome, 17 Resident, 19 Dinette, 20 Busy bee, 22 Merit, 23 Egret.