as to initial stage 1 applications- well when i did stage 1 there were 120 in one afternoong being processed. Say 200/day. Rough guess say 20 application days per month (being based on 6 days/month at 3 locations around the country), thats 4000 applicants per month, with 12 months of applications. 48,000 in total!
i don't think its unreasonable to expect 48,000 applicants over a year!
Blimey, 120 in one day! Where did you have your S1?
There can't have been more than 20 people max when I did mine at the CTC the other week.