The ability to be soft on a debtor? (5)
I believe the answer is:
power
'the ability' is the definition.
('power' can be a synonym of 'ability')
'soft on a debtor?' is the wordplay.
'soft' becomes 'p' (musical abbreviation for 'piano').
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'a debtor?' becomes 'ower' (I've seen this in another clue).
'p'+'ower'='POWER'
'to be' is the link.
(Other definitions for power that I've seen before include "Large amount" , "Strength - capacity" , "Strength, force" , "Supply with energy" , "Supremacy, force" .)