the general licence as i understand it is a code to adhere to rather than something you have to apply for, also i think the semi auti issue applies to shotguns held on a shotgun certificate as opposed to a section one firearms certificate, A shotgun held on a shotgun certificate can only have capacity for two rounds in the mag and one round in the breech I think, wheras a shotgun held on a section one may exceed this capacity, as far as I am aware, hope that helps mate