SOLUTION TO PRIZE CROSSWORD No 15,796:

ACROSS: 1 Vocalise. 5 Smalls. 9 Nugatory. 10 Statue. 12 Eire. 13 Side effect. 15 Reprehensible. 19 Orchestration. 23 Supercargo. 25 Beau. 28 By-play. 29 Withhold. 30 Errata. 31 Indolent. DOWN: 1 Veneer. 2 Cigar. 3 Lots. 4 Survive. 6 Motif. 7 Litter bin. 8 Sweet pea. 11 Hebe. 14 Epee. 15 Rice paper. 16 Her. 17 Slip. 18 Possible. 20 Thai. 21 Anglian. 22 Pundit. 24 React. 26 Evoke. 27 Shoo.