MADRID (Reuters) - The Spanish government said on Friday it would continue controlling Catalan spending so long as  the exceptional situation  continued, referring to the regional government s plans to hold an independence referendum it says is illegal.  The state will pay to a great extent (civil servants) salaries. That s what the spending control means and that will be in place as long as the exceptional situation continues,  Budget Minister Cristobal Montoro said following the weekly cabinet meeting. 