This crossword No. 9706 clues and answers were published on Tue 12 Jun 2001 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Quick Crossword No. 9706 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Cliche : PLATITUDE
8-across – Release – without charge : FREE
9-across – Culminating point of a joke : PUNCHLINE
10-across – Responsibility : ONUS
13-across – Legendary being : GNOME
15-across – Maintain – allege : ASSERT
16-across – Child without parent : ORPHAN
17-across – Crustacean : SHRIMP
19-across – Ruffle – disarrange : TOUSLE
20-across – Sailing boat : YACHT
21-across – Obtuse – tedious – cloudy : DULL
24-across – Criticism : STRICTURE
25-across – Carry on – remuneration : WAGE
26-across – Onlooker : BYSTANDER
All Down Clues and Answers:
2-down – Fortissimo – gaudy : LOUD
3-down – Staple – food : TACK
4-down – Money – gift : TALENT
5-down – Energy converter – hard worker : DYNAMO
6-down – The right to vote : FRANCHISE
7-down – Courier : MESSENGER
11-down – Light before sunrise : FALSEDAWN
12-down – Star divining : ASTROLOGY
13-down – Dirty – soiled : GRIMY
14-down – Parasitical fungus : ERGOT
18-down – Petty – worthless : PALTRY
19-down – Plant – saving – economy : THRIFT
22-down – Stupefy : STUN
23-down – Honest – expression of agreement : TRUE
This crossword has in total 28 where 14 are across and 14 are down.