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Sorry folks, but I'm really struggling with this. I can fill in the clues, but don't know why or even if the words exist:

16a. Mean before, get old, restraining temper, on reflection (8)
D E N - T A - E
(Denotate/Denotage?)

25a.Soil-type not accompanied by gains(8)
S - L O - E T S
(Sologets/Solonets?)

30a. Earthenware found in excavation (4)
D - L F
(Delf?)

29d. Proceed to rise in secret police, given promotion (4)
- P G O
(Upgo?)

Any hints about how to proceed or any answers would be much appreciated.

You've really got them:-

16a denotate
25a solonets
30a delf
29d upgo

Could 29d be OGPU "Ob'edinennoe Gosudarstvennoe Politicheskoe Upravlenie" - state political directorate in Soviet Union - a form of secret police

That's exactly what it is, but the wrong way round - "given promotion"

Ah OK - UPGO or OGPU, the Russian secret police of 1922–34.

Many thanks AJT and Mark,
with you help I now have my head round these dastardly clues! I enjoyed this crossword this week. Last week I got zilch!
Ta
Dandelion

Given promotion - so reversed - got it - eventually!