Speech’s missing opening – making allowances? (7)
I believe the answer is:
rations
'allowances?' is the definition.
(allowance is a kind of ration)
'speech's missing opening' is the wordplay.
'speech's' becomes 'oration's' (oration is a kind of speech).
'missing opening' means to remove the first letter.
'orations' with its initial letter removed is 'RATIONS'.
'making' is the link.
(Other definitions for rations that I've seen before include "Food allowances" , "Commons" , "Limits (supplies)" , "Food as issued" , "Fare" .)