The General License came into place to account for the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981(
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/69)
The GL over-rides the WCA, which allows for certain species to be controlled.
Basically, the GL is the government's way to control what species get shot and which don't. To shoot an animal outside of the bounds of the GL is a punishable offense. So if a person was to shoot a sparrow, under any circumstances other than specific legal permission obtained directly from the courts, then they would be punishable for breaking the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and thus are in deep doodoo. Even though most kids with a BB gun have taken the odd pot shot at some kind of bird, ignorance is not a legally standing defense. There was a kid in Bham that was shooting birds in his garden. Neighbour's complained, he's now redlisted. No chance this kid is ever going to get an FAC or SGC, or any number of things like that. No chance of a job in law enforcement either, or many other careers that may need background checks.
The General License is not something you have to fill out paperwork to get. It's simply a set of laws that anyone with a gun needs to adhere to. Like a dog license really. Anyone can get a dog, but there are rules you need to stick to.
The Permission thing is just the permission of the land owner. It's not a legal permission you have to ask the gov for. It's for non-landowners to ask permission from the land owner to hunt on their land. For example, if I have a crow problem on my own piece of land, I am entitled to go out there and shoot the crows (providing the terms of the GL are fulfilled).
If I see a farmers land with a load of crows on it, clearly causing a problem, I can't just go over there and start shooting crows. It's trespassing and technically armed trespassing. Thus the need for the permission from the land owner.
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