Code Inside! --&> How To Return The @@identity Parameter Without Using Stored Procedures

Hi.here is my code with my problem described in the syntax.I am using asp.net 1.1 and VB.NETThanks in advance for your help.I am still a beginner and I know that your time is precious. I would really appreciate it if you could "fill" my example function with the right code that returns the new ID of the newly inserted row. 

Public Function howToReturnID(ByVal aCompany As String, ByVal aName As String) As Integer

'that is the variable for the new id.Dim intNewID As Integer

Dim strSQL As String = "INSERT INTO tblAnfragen(aCompany, aName)" & _                                    "VALUES (@aCompany, @aName); SELECT @NewID = @@identity"

Dim dbConnection As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection(connectionString)Dim dbCommand As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand()dbCommand.CommandText = strSQL

'Here is my problem.'What do I have to do in order to add the parameter @NewID and'how do I read and return the value of @NewID within that function howToReturnID'any help is greatly appreciated!'I cannot use SPs in this application - have to do it this way! :-(

dbCommand.Parameters.Add("@aFirma", aCompany.Trim)dbCommand.Parameters.Add("@aAnsprAnrede", aName.Trim)

dbCommand.Connection = dbConnection

TrydbConnection.Open()dbCommand.ExecuteNonQuery()

'here i want to return the new ID!Return intNewID

Catch ex As Exception

Throw New System.Exception("Error: " & ex.Message.ToString())

Finally

dbCommand.Dispose()dbConnection.Close()dbConnection.Dispose()

End Try

End Function