Functions that return type

[data pulverizer via Digitalmars-d-learn]

On Saturday, 16 January 2016 at 21:22:15 UTC, data pulverizer 
wrote:
> Is it possible to create a function that returns Type like 
> typeof() does? Something such as:
>
> Type returnInt(){
>     return int;
> }
>
> More to the point what is the Type of a type such as int?
>
> Thanks

p.s. I am aware I could do typeof(1) to return int, but I am 
looking for something more elegant and some understanding.