4  Notices herb in stew... (8)

 9  ... in case it upset the taste (9)

11 Sent back half of retirement benefit (5)

12 Bragged about date being loaded (7)

13 Announce the French to invest in getting transport company off the ground (7)

14 Fragment of soluble thallium can be deadly (6)

16 Extremely influential individual, Trump's inauguration infiltrates backward plan to form armed band of civilians (7)

19 Long-term investment of human resources in business - almost friendly! (7)

21 Complaint of one appetizer sent back with cold filling (6)

25 Originally timeless message, part of Paleolithic tablet, ultimately lost (7)

26 Strategic game within confines of arena, disembowelling lions and tigers, say (7)

28 Olympian oddly keeping quiet! (5)

29 Politician and fancy escort in pieces! (9)

30 Anti-lock brakes on large vehicle locking up wheel outright! (8)

31 Mockeries made of charges involving conservative leader (6)

 1  Doctor ached with advanced case of the sniffles? (4,4)

 2  Crime scene investigation turned up, interrupting party in nightclub (5)

 3  Layer of eggs is basis of dish in eastern country (7)

 5  Lily's somehow saucier after swallowing drug (8)

 6  Northern people laying seige to ancient city and first class warrior (7)

 7  Children unevenly covered with grime spread hand sanitiser? (9)

 8  Model's a bit of a laugh when topless (6)

10 "Thanks", one had gathered, is in order (4)

15 Pacific islanders catch the sun, drinking punch socially, essentially the ultimate of holidays (9)

17 Fund set up primarily to adopt cute pet (5-3)

18 Musicians with empty shoes and improvisors wearing socks (8)

20 Personal object might cause embarrassment when playing? (3,4)

22 Bearcat in home turned out to be an unrealistic idea (7)

23 Plant growing coastally from get-go, reporterly (3,3)

24 Curtains for night-time? (4)

27 Ancient Central American map of roads etc, crumbled (5)