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A bit of a slog, this, and not a great deal of fun (though 21a made me laugh!)
Any hints for my last two, please?
15d Clever lot, males promoted before relations (8)
?M?R?*?S (*crosser with the other)
I can think of a word for "Clever lot", but don't see any parsing
24a Announcement of written arrangement, a charge on smokers etc? (3,3)
?*?,T?X
Presumbaly some sort of TAX?

15d i expect you have the correct answer.... 1st letters reversed are the males ... last 4 are the relations

24a now you have the middle letter you should have the answer ... it sounds like a bit of grammar

Thanks kirky
I can see the males, but I can't make the last 4 letters into "relations" (I have an excuse of being under the weather!)

not relation as in aunt /uncle etc but another relation meaning can be...

Thanks again. Not sure I like that one - why "smokers etc"?

cos it's bad to smoke ??

for the other one ... look here
http://www.the-crossword-solver.com/search and put relation in the search box

All hints kind of throw out the answer I had for 18A unless PAG somehow relates to 'actions'.

PAG is incorrect...a state of conflict...

20d. Complex put on private residential area (6). I have ? P?O?N. I have an answer for this that uses one letter for private and don't know why. Can anyone help please?