1: Pauses awkwardly after error but steadies nerves (5,2)
2: Hold onto string and file (5)
3: To initiate into communist units, they carry the vital gas. (3, 5, 5)
4: Concrete area covered by company's emergency equipment (4,5)
5: Property initially in annuity settlement survived estate tax (5)
6: Vicar regularly outdated technology (1.1.1.)
7: Sex and dope are wrong, it's revealed (7)
9: A little sports car, let to harassed Southern belle (8,5)
12: Contrarily accepted gold slab (5)
14: Discussed one who broadcasts mistake (5)
15: So the ref stands by score, after ejecting a couple of starters (9)
16: Aspirant describing old road movies? (7)
18: Notices substituting first paragraph for up town witticisms (7)
20: Withdrawn Art pursues former wife's dividend (5)
23: Pious woman in underground hideaway (3)