Essentially the Home Office has spent its budget for this financial year, therefore everything is guaranteed to be on lock down until April 1st. This was imposed from upon high so the recruiters can't do anything about it.
After April 1st locations will likely do their best to try and get staff in the door before the general election, if they are permitted to do so.
After the general election in May there may be a change of leadership which may then lead to a change in recruitment policy meaning anything can happen.
I'm afraid its all just a sign of the times we are living in.
Good luck to those of you that still have outstanding applications.