Like I said, Andy, if you use the VIP service then submitting the application and the biometerics is done at the same time. It took my wife 20 minutes to do both, once she had arrived at VFS. (Most of her day, that day, was taken up travelling from home to VFS and back).
A mate of hers had her spouse visa application done through the VFS VIP Lounge, just a few days ago and it took 15 minutes total - for both the submission of application and the biometrics.
On the decison........thats a different matter and it took us 2 weeks from the date of submission. But many on here recently have received theirs in just 2 or 3 days. But of course it can take up to 3 months.......