Pays for seats (7)
I believe the answer is:
settles
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'pays' is the first definition.
(settling a debt is paying it)
'seats' is the second definition.
(settle is a kind of seat)
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for settles that I've seen before include "Comes to rest" , "Resolves" , "furniture" , "Pays the bill" , "Becomes established in a place" .)