With respect to your question in terms of how many people made application, we do have some data, which is current as of April 2009, indicating that out of the 265 applications made over the time it was possible to make faint hope applications, 140 obtained reductions in their parole eligibility dates.
Those reductions would depend on whether they were serving a sentence for first degree or second degree murder, so between one and ten years; it varies with the individual. That has to be put into context in terms of the total number of people eligible to apply; the 265 is over that period of time.
You have to bear that in mind in terms of the total number of people serving life sentences. To assist in doing that, we could add that as of April 2009 there were 1,001 individuals serving life sentences who are potentially able to apply either now or in the future.